Evaluating Alternative Response Programs in Atlanta and Albuquerque
Community‑based alternative response models offer a promising approach to a critical public safety challenge: the overreliance on police to respond to non‑violent 911 calls. While fewer than 3% of calls involve violent crime, most others reflect quality‑of‑life concerns tied to unmet health, behavioral health, and social needs. When handled by traditional law enforcement alone, these situations can escalate rather than resolve underlying issues.
Alternative response programs deploy unarmed medical and mental health professionals to de‑escalate crises, connect individuals to supportive services, and reduce unnecessary arrests. Grounded in community leadership and trust, these models aim to improve safety outcomes while supporting individual dignity and community well‑being.
Supporting Better Public Safety Strategies
To help strengthen and scale these approaches, AIR is partnering with the Policing Alternatives & Diversion Initiative (PAD) in Atlanta and Albuquerque Community Safety (ACS) to evaluate and build capacity for effective implementation. Working with Georgetown Law’s Center for Innovations in Community Safety and place‑based community advisory boards, AIR is conducting a two‑year implementation and cost study to better understand what it takes to launch and sustain community‑based alternative response programs.
The study centers community voices, identifies implementation best practices, assesses resource and staffing needs, and generates actionable insights to inform future outcomes evaluation. Through this work, AIR is supporting public safety strategies that prioritize health, dignity, and community thriving.
