Contemporary Policing Guidelines for Working with the Mental Health System
Prepared by the Police/Mental Health Subcommittee
of
the Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police (CACP) Human Resources Committee

Co-Chairs
Dorothy Cotton Ph.D., C. Psych.
and
Chief of Police Terry Coleman MOM, MA, MHRM

Updated: July, 2006

In 2006, the Human Resources Committee of CACP endorsed a set of Guidelines to assist police service in the development of programs and services related to police interactions with people with mental illnesses. These Guidelines recognize that there are significant regional variations in police services and mental health services, and thus each police service needs to adapt to the local cultural, ethnic, and demographic needs, depending on the size, population density and other local characteristics of the jurisdiction. The Guidelines are intended as a way of identifying key components of a police approach to people with mental illnesses—but without endorsing any particular model on intervention.

• Guidelines Document (PDF)