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Mayor Adams directs NYPD, first responders to involuntarily take mentally ill to hospitals - Gothamist

Mayor Adams directs NYPD, first responders to involuntarily take mentally ill to hospitals - Gothamist

Nov 29, 2022 1 min, 36 secs

The move could allow non-medical professionals, such as police officers, to request such removals from streets and subways based on their judgment of a person's inability to meet basic needs for health and safety, the mayor’s office said.

But the mayor’s directive acknowledges that “case law does not provide extensive guidance regarding removals for mental health evaluations based on short interactions in the field.”.

He added that the administration’s response raises questions about its intentions toward homelessness and the city’s mental health crisis.

He said responders who win over the trust of homeless individuals will typically find them willing to accept mental health treatment.

The problem, he said, is that the city could not accommodate the demand for mental health programs.

Kathryn Wylde, head of the influential group the Partnership for New York City, which represents the business community, said, "I believe the mayor's announcement today is a very thoughtful approach to getting people the treatment and support they need, and that's something that the business community strongly supports.".

Kathy Hochul on the issues of public safety and mental health.

Reached for comment, Hazel Crampton-Hayes, a spokesperson for the governor, said the mayor’s plan “builds on our ongoing efforts together” around mental illness, including outreach teams in the subways and increasing bed capacity at psychiatric hospitals.

Earlier this year, state lawmakers approved a five-year extension of Kendra’s Law, which allows the court to order a person to undergo mental health treatment under certain conditions.

But some advocates have argued that in the face of the pandemic, New York City has not done enough to address the ongoing mental health crisis.

The Legal Aid Society and a group of public defender organizations released a joint statement praising the mayor for bringing attention to the city’s mental health crisis — but did not directly address the directive or the proposed reforms

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