The Mayor’s Racial Justice and Equity Alliance in Lansing conducted an online community update today (TUESDAY).
The presentation included reports on what is being done about city worker training and youth development.
On the criminal justice and public safety front, police chief Daryl Green called for more state resources to pay for a crisis stabilization center. That would be an alternative to taking people experiencing mental health crises to the city lockup.
“We can teach police officers to recognize mental health issues, and try to de-escalate those situations, but the only other option we have is to take them to jail,” said Green.
Green says he has had conversations with the department’s social worker, who says she’s concerned for her safety in certain scenarios.
The panel expects to issue a final report to Mayor Andy Schor in May.