Question: What are the results of the ACORP pilot program so far in terms of the data? (Councilwoman Alyia Gaskins)
Response:
The Alexandria Co-Response Program (ACORP) commissioned a process evaluation for the first 12-months of the program implementation (October 2021- September 2022) that served to examine the initial program operations and challenges encountered in the implementation phase. The results were published in a report titled “City of Alexandria Co-Response Program (ACORP) 12-Month Evaluation Report” by OMNI Institute and released in December of 2022 (report is available upon request).
ACORP is currently made up of three teams. Each team consists of a behavioral health therapist and a police officer with specialized behavioral health training, including Crisis Intervention Training (CIT). Since August 2023, there have been two teams operating due to staff vacancies. The ACORP schedule has been adjusted to meet peak hours for mental health calls received by the Department of Emergency Communications (DECC) The current schedule provides ACORP coverage 7-days per week between 10:00 am to 9:30 pm, which captures 68.6% of the mental health calls received. One officer vacancy is in the process of being filled, and it is anticipated that the team will be in full force by June 2024.
An internal ACORP dashboard has been used to track metrics identified by the OMNI report. Below are highlights from that reporting for October 2022 through February 2024:
- Of 3,934 behavioral health calls received by the Department of Emergency and Customer Communications, 965 (25%) were responded to by an ACORP team.
- 31 of the 965 calls for services met arrest criteria, and 27 (87%) of these ACORP encounters resulted in diversion from incarceration.
- At least 72% of all mental health calls (including ACORP calls) were responded to by a CIT trained officer.
Demographics of those served by ACORP calls from October 2022 – February 2024:
Hispanic heritage
- 89% Non-Hispanic/Latino
- 11% Hispanic, Latino, Latinx
Race
- 55% White
- 29% African American
- 14% Other
- 2% Asian
Age
- 20% under 18
- 70% ages 25-64
- 10% age 65+
- Mean age=39
Gender
- 33% male
- 67% female