Arrive Together

The Springfield Police Department is a proud participant in the ARRIVE Together Program, established by the Office of the Attorney General. Established in 2021, the ARRIVE Together program is a partnership between law enforcement and mental health experts. Our specially trained officers are teaming up with mental health screeners from Trinitas Hospital and can provide quick and effective mental health services to those experiencing a mental health crisis. Union County is currently one of seven counties that are offering 100% coverage to its residence. These teams currently operate Monday through Friday from 12 PM to 12 AM.

ARRIVE is achieving at least four important goals.

• One, ARRIVE is leading to safer outcomes for our most vulnerable residents. Having a mental health specialist, rather than an officer, addressing behavioral health concerns is keeping residents safe. Specifically, the involvement of an ARRIVE team leads to fewer arrests, fewer uses of force, fewer injuries, and eliminates racial disparities with respect to outcome.
• Second, ARRIVE is increasing the utilization of mental health resources. Traditionally, an officer interacting with an individual in crisis could either call a screener and wait for them to arrive on scene, or consistent with the law, make the decision themselves to transport the individual (voluntarily or involuntarily) to the hospital. Under our co-response and close follow-up models, screeners are on scene from the beginning or near the beginning of a response, saving the officer’s wait time, bringing appropriate medical assistance faster, and preventing situations from escalating.
• Third, ARRIVE keeps residents in the community. According to the N.J. Department of Human Services, about a third of individuals in crisis who are transported to the emergency room require hospitalization. Clinicians have the training and experience to determine when someone should be evaluated for hospitalization and when that individual is able to remain in the community—particularly when connected to services to meet their needs.
• Finally, ARRIVE is improving trust between law enforcement and community. ARRIVE is community-informed and designed to fit the specific needs and resources of each community. ARRIVE improves the health and well-being of individuals with mental and behavioral health emergencies and eliminates stigma by connecting individuals to care and resources rather than the criminal justice system.