Item 336/2024
Final
City of Garden Grove
INTER-DEPARTMENT MEMORANDUM
To:
Lisa L. Kim From: Matt West
Dept:
City Manager Dept: City Manager
Date: 8/13/2024
Subject: Approval to submit a response to the Grand Jury Report, Law Enforcement's Response to Mental Health Calls for Service. (Action Item)
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this report is for the City Council to approve the attached response to the 2023-2024 Orange County Grand Jury Report, Law Enforcement’s Response to Mental Health Calls for Service, and authorize submittal to the Orange County Grand Jury.
BACKGROUND
On June 5, 2024, the Orange County Grand Jury released its 2023 -24 Grand Jury Report, Law Enforcement’s Response to Mental Health Calls for Service . The purpose of the report was to investigate how Orange County law enforcement leaders, law enforcement educators, and mental health professionals respond to and assist individuals who suffer from mental illness. In compliance with Penal Code 933 and 933.05, the City is required to provide a response to each of the findings directed to the City C ouncil by September 4, 2024.
Specifically, the City is to respond to five findings.
DISCUSSION
Approximately 8.8 million Americans have a severe mental illness such as schizophrenia, severe bi -polar disorder, or major depression with psychiatric features . Without proper treatment, people with severe mental illness are at risk of experiencing negative outcomes that seriously impact them and the people around them. According to the Grand Jury report, approximately one-third of individuals with severe mental illness have their first exposure to mental health treatment through a law enforcement encounter. Consequently, law enforcement officers are often on the front lines of psychiatric care, charged with responding to, addressing, and preventing a mental illness crisis. The Orange County Grand Jury believes that law enforcement in Orange County is a model for training law enforcement personnel on mental health crisis intervention techniques and collaborating with behavioral organizations to improve service and reduce stigma for those affected by mental illness.
The Grand Jury report outlined five findings: (1) Mental health training for law enforcement officers in Orange County exceeds the State’s requirements, resulting in law enforcement Item 336/2024
applying these skills to better evaluate and handle mental health calls for service, (2) Law enforcement agencies in Orange County have developed unique ways to deal with mental health calls in their communities based on their particular needs and budgets, enabling law enforcement to better serve their communities, (3) Law enforcement collaboration with County Psychiatric Emergency Response Team (PERT) clinicians and Be Well mobile response units has been an effective tool when responding to mental health calls for service, (4) People with mental illness respond more positively to “soft uniformed” police personnel, which can be effective in de-escalating situations, and (5) Providing follow-up case management is not only necessary but critical for the well-being of people experiencing mental health issues. The City of Garden Grove agrees with the Grand Jury’s findings.
Based on its investigation, the 2023-24 Orange County Grand Jury has determined that law enforcement agencies throughout Orange County have developed unique tech niques to adequately address mental health calls, thus this report does not contain recommendations.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
None.
RECOMMENDATION
It is recommended that the City Council:
Approve the attached response and authorize submittal to the Orange Cou nty Grand Jury.
ATTACHMENT(S)
1. OC Grand Jury Report - Law Enforcement's Response to Mental Health Calls for Service
2. Response to Grand Jury Report Law Enforcement Mental Health Calls for Service