They’re Not Cops. They Don’t Have Guns. But They’re Responding to More 911 Calls.

Alternative responder programs are closely related strategies in which social workers or behavioral health specialists show up to calls instead of police officers. These teams only respond to calls with a low probability of violence, and many engage in proactive work as well, trying to connect people with behavioral health challenges to services outside the context of a crisis. Above: Crisis responder Chris Jones, left, talks with a community member in Washington.