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Rights Group Identifies Alternatives to Police-Led Mental Health Crisis Response
Human Rights Watch report highlights non-police programs that aim to de-escalate mental health emergencies
Apr. 1, 2026 at 6:34am
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A new report from Human Rights Watch, New York Lawyers for the Public Interest, and the Center for Racial and Disability Justice at UCLA Law School has identified numerous programs across the US that provide alternatives to traditional police response for mental health crises. The report surveyed 150 non-police crisis response models and found that key strategies include removing police as the primary responders and deploying teams with personal experience in mental health and substance abuse issues.
Why it matters
The report argues that police presence often escalates mental health emergencies, and that alternative response models focused on de-escalation and rights-based support can better serve individuals experiencing crises. It also cites the Americans with Disabilities Act as providing a legal basis for these alternative approaches, which aim to reduce the disproportionate risk of police violence faced by people with disabilities.
The details
The report highlighted eight specific alternative crisis response programs, including the Mobile Assistance Community Responders of Oakland and the Cambridge Holistic Emergency Alternative Response Team. These models emphasize removing police as the default responders and deploying teams with personal experience in mental health and substance abuse issues. The report also noted that these alternative approaches avoid forcing services on individuals and focus on respecting their right to self-determination.
- The report was published on Monday, April 1, 2026.
The players
Human Rights Watch
An international non-governmental organization that conducts research and advocacy on human rights issues worldwide.
New York Lawyers for the Public Interest
A non-profit civil rights law firm that advocates for marginalized communities in New York.
Center for Racial and Disability Justice at UCLA Law School
A research and advocacy center at the University of California, Los Angeles Law School that focuses on issues at the intersection of race and disability.
Mobile Assistance Community Responders of Oakland
A non-police crisis response program in Oakland, California that provides mental health and substance abuse support.
Cambridge Holistic Emergency Alternative Response Team
A non-police crisis response program in Cambridge, Massachusetts that aims to de-escalate emergencies through a holistic, rights-based approach.
What’s next
The report's findings are expected to inform ongoing efforts by advocacy groups and local governments to develop and expand alternative mental health crisis response programs across the United States.
The takeaway
This report highlights a growing movement to reimagine emergency response for mental health crises, moving away from traditional police-led models that can escalate situations. By centering the rights and self-determination of individuals in crisis, these alternative programs aim to provide more compassionate, effective, and equitable support.
