Empowering Judgment: How the ARRIVE Program in Sussex County is Redefining Law Enforcement and Mental Health Care

As law enforcement officers, sometimes dealing with emergencies that carry the potential for violence can be challenging. In such situations, arrest may not always be the best course of action. In response to this, a behavioral health intervention may be more appropriate. A new program in Sussex County, New Jersey is taking a significant step towards improving the intersection of law enforcement and behavioral health care.

The Alternative Responses to Reduce Instances of Violence and Escalation (ARRIVE) program is being implemented at Atlantic Health System’s Newton Medical Center. This pioneering initiative aims to reshape responses to mental health crises, reduce instances of violence, and provide more compassionate and effective care during emergencies. Instead of automatic arrest during emergencies, law enforcement officers are empowered to use their judgment on site to determine if a hotline intervention would be more effective. They can call Newton Medical Center’s crisis hotline to request assistance for a patient in need of mental health services, thereby aiming to de-escalate situations and connect individuals with appropriate care.

Newton Medical Center serves as the designated psychiatry screening center for Sussex County and plays a vital role in the success of the ARRIVE program. By providing more compassionate and effective responses to mental health emergencies, the program hopes to foster a safer and more supportive community environment. To learn more about this innovative program, visit the Newton Medical Center website.

Law enforcement officers have long recognized that when faced with an emergency that carries the potential for violence, arrest may not always be the best course of action. Instead, they must use their judgment on site to determine if a behavioral health intervention would be more appropriate.

This new ARRIVE program in Sussex County is an important step towards improving the intersection of law enforcement and behavioral health care. It aims to reshape responses to mental health crises by reducing instances of violence and providing compassionate care during emergencies.

Instead of automatic arrest during emergencies, law enforcement officers are now empowered with judgment on site to determine if a hotline intervention would be more effective.

Newton Medical Center plays a vital role in this innovative program as it serves as the designated psychiatry screening center for Sussex County.

By providing compassionate care during mental health emergencies, this program hopes to foster a safer community environment.

To learn more about this groundbreaking program visit the Newton Medical Center website today!