To the editor:
In April, our state Legislature is going to deliberate on the state’s budget. One of the legislative documents that is awaiting to be funded this session is LD 298: An Act to Employ Mental Health Personnel Within the Maine State Police. This bill was passed in both the House and the Senate but is currently waiting to be funded by the Appropriations and Financial Affairs Committee.
Law enforcement officers have been responding to more mental health crises in recent years. They have been tasked to make quick decisions despite their minimal training surrounding mental health crisis situations, which has been found to be a flawed method of intervention. LD 298 was written in hopes of alleviating this pressure by introducing job positions for mental health professionals to be directly involved with the Maine State Police.
If LD 298 were to be funded, three behavioral health coordinator positions would be created to assist with making decisions regarding the health, safety, and welfare of individuals within our communities who encounter law enforcement. By incorporating mental health professionals into the criminal justice field, there could be more effective interventions and a decrease in preventable, hostile situations.
I encourage everyone in the state of Maine to read this bill and contact their legislators to show that Maine is in support of this bill, especially in Aroostook County. It is important that we advocate for this bill to integrate mental health professionals into the criminal justice system, which will address the growing issue of avoidable, escalated mental health crises.
Madelyn K. Buzza
Mapleton
