[shinsheel]

Oh, that's a good soviet practice.

Underlying energy of why it works - people are actually afraid of psych facility even more than police department and think if they get there they would have even less chance to get out.

Also medical personnel is trained for everyday kind of violence, they can just beat the shit out of you where police would maybe wait until one more step of escalation.

That free hands give them authority that police doesn't have.

Just give police permission to beat people on a whim and you would instantly see the same effect with nobody risking to mess with police again and so no need for arrest.

[ogre_codes]

These programs aren't like that. A van shows up, a medic and someone with experience dealing with mental health issues. They talk to people help them with some basic needs, drive them to a clinic if they need detox (and want to go) or otherwise just get them to stop doing whatever it was that caused someone to call 911.

The STARS people have no authority to cart people off, and are trained to avoid physical confrontation. If people get violent or need to be physically removed, they protect themselves and call the police.