NCJ Number
84056
Journal
Journal of Police Science and Administration Volume: 10 Issue: 2 Dated: (June 1982) Pages: 218-223
Date Published
1982
Length
6 pages
Annotation
The development, implementation, and evaluation of the Policy for Persons in Need of Mental Health Services (Washtenaw County, Mich.) exemplifies the types of processes which may be used for improving the interface between law enforcement and human service agencies.
Abstract
The establishment of a Social Justice Policy Team consisting of the agency heads ensures that policy decisions may be made for an entire service agency by the appropriate administrator who is in a position to effect changes and allocate resources. The use of Social Justice Operational Teams allows for midmanagement involvement in the development and implementation of policies and is particularly important for daily procedural supervision of line personnel within each agency. Intraagency and interagency training programs develop positive systems of communication between agency professionals, and they provide valuable information and education about areas identified as problems in service delivery. The major impact of this approach is the development of a formalized means to coordinate service among agencies at a policy level through systematic countywide efforts. The end result is internal and external organizational changes which occur through careful planning and mutual problemsolving. Twenty-one references are listed. (Author summary modified)