The Justice Department has announced findings of discrimination by the State of Oklahoma, Oklahoma City, and the Oklahoma City Police Department (OKCPD) against individuals with behavioral health disabilities. In breaches of Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), these entities have been found to institutionalize or risk unnecessarily institutionalizing adults with such disabilities. Furthermore, the city and its police force have engaged in behaviors that when providing emergency services, discriminate against this vulnerable population.
"Instead of accessing treatment in the community, they are institutionalized repeatedly," stated Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department's Civil Rights Division. This, the Justice Department says, places undue reliance on police responses to 911 calls for behavioral health emergencies that do not pose public safety issues. In these instances, mental health crises can become needlessly escalated and sometimes lead to unjustified use of force. In attempts to improve, both the state and city have begun to make changes to their systems, such as expanding crisis services and updating response plans for behavioral health emergencies.
The department's investigation found that many of the potentially thousands admitted to psychiatric hospitals each year in the Oklahoma County area could live successfully in their communities with adequate support services. Yet, the state's current setup has been inadequate in preventing unnecessary hospitalizations. When behavioral health crises arise, they most often result in contact with law enforcement rather than receiving proper care and treatment.
When behavioral health emergencies are reported to 911, the response is predominantly by the police, who are often not equipped to address these specific needs. According to the Justice Department's findings, the involvement of behavioral health professionals in such responses is rare, leading to situations where OKCPD officers, armed and lacking appropriate training, end up escalating crises or using unwarranted force.
The Justice Department plans to engage with community members to formulate remedial actions for the substantiated claims. The department invites public input through calls and emails, as detailed on their official website. In addition, the public is encouraged to participate in a virtual community meeting on Jan. 7 at 6 p.m. CT, with registration details available online.
