Benefits and Drawbacks of Police Integration Into Assertive Community Treatment Teams

What is it about?

Highlights • Police integration into Assertive Community Treatment (ACT-PI) is a novel method designed to reduce criminal involvement for individuals coping with severe mental illness being served by ACT programs. • The current study was a qualitative investigation of client and staff perceptions of the benefits and drawbacks of officer integration into ACT-PI teams. • Benefits were derived from establishing trusting relationships, improving safety, and preventing harm, facilitated by the use of coordinated care and officers’ authority; drawbacks included risk of consequences, police stigma, escalating distress, low availability of officers, and potentially changing the nature of ACT teams.

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