New police hotline aims to keep mentally ill out of jail

NCT ID NCT03740139

Knowledge-focused Sponsor: Columbia University Source: ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

First seen Jun 26, 2026 · Last updated Jun 26, 2026

Summary

This study tested a system where police officers can call a mental health provider during encounters with people who have serious mental illness. The goal was to see if this reduces arrests and helps people stay connected to care. Over 1,400 participants were randomly assigned to either have the system available or not, and outcomes were tracked for 24 months.

What this could mean

Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only, not medical advice or a prediction.

Active substance: Police-Mental Health Linkage System (a phone-based support from a mental health provider to police during encounters)
What this could lead to: If it works, this could point toward a way to reduce arrests and improve care continuity for people with serious mental illness.
What could go wrong: This is a completed trial, but results may not apply to other regions or populations. The system relies on police cooperation and may not work in all situations.

This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.

Study facts

What this study's own registry entry says, in plain language.

Phase

Not a phased trial

Phase numbers describe drug development. The registry uses this when they do not apply, as it does for trials of devices, procedures or behaviour changes, and for observational studies.

Participants

1,405 people

The number who actually took part.

Started

Feb 2019

Finished

Apr 2024

Lead sponsor

Other sponsor

The registry's catch-all category, for sponsors it does not file as a company, a government agency, or a research network.

Who can take part

This study's own entry requirements. Only the study team can say for certain whether you qualify.

Ages

18 years and older

Sex

Anyone

Healthy volunteers

Not accepted

This study is not open to healthy volunteers. The entry requirements below say who it is open to.

Show the full entry requirements

Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.

Inclusion Criteria: * Receiving outpatient services from DeKalb, Gateway, Pineland, or Unison Community Service Boards in Georgia * Able to speak/read English * Clinical diagnosis of one of the following: psychotic disorder, bipolar disorder, or major depressive disorder * History of at least one prior arrest within the past 5 years * Capacity to give informed consent Exclusion Criteria: * Enrolled in any other research project or currently enrolled in the Opening Doors to Recovery research project * Known or suspected intellectual disability, mental retardation, or dementia * Known or suspected autism-spectrum disorder, organic mental disorder, and/or traumatic brain injury * Significant medical condition compromising ability to participate (e.g., short of breath, in pain) * Has a guardian * Received service less than 3 times in the previous year

Get updates

Get notified about this study

Sign up to get updates when this study changes or when new studies for Bipolar disorder are added.

Vår säkerhetsrekommendation!

Genom att skicka in godkänner du våra Användarvillkor

Conditions

The condition(s) this trial relates to.

bipolar disorder depressive disorder major depressive disorder psychiatric disorder psychotic disorder Schizophrenia

As listed by the trial registrant

The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.

Bipolar disorder Depressive disorder Mental disorders, severe Schizophrenia and related disorders

New police hotline aims to keep mentally ill out of jail

What the study statuses mean