Law enforcement officers with jail responsibilities not only provide first-line response to people with mental illness who are in crisis, but they also, in cases where detention is necessary, must oversee a transition that can be stressful and complex. The Consensus Project explores ways to minimize the risks to all parties involved, and suggests strategies to identify, treat, and monitor detainees with mental illness, and to collaborate with mental health providers, the courts, and other agencies to ensure an appropriate response.

Though the Consensus Project encourages a systemic approach to improving the response to people with mental illness involved in the justice system, we recognize the need for law enforcement officials with jail responsibilities to focus on the issues that most directly pertain to their roles. To that end, we recommend that they focus on the following sections: