releases: https://horn.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=279
Data license: MIT · Data source: dwillis/congress-press
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| https://horn.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=279 | Oklahomans Endorse Rep. Horn Law Enforcement Training Bill | 2020-06-09 | 2020 | 2020-06 | Democrat | House | OK | Kendra Horn | H001083 | horn.house.gov | legacy | OKLAHOMA CITY, OK On Tuesday, June 9, more than a dozen Oklahoma organizations and lawmakers publicly endorsed bipartisan criminal justice reform legislation introduced by Congresswoman Kendra Horn (OK-5). TheLaw Enforcement Training for Mental Health Crisis Response Act(H.R. 2698)provides funding for law enforcement training to recognize, deescalate, and respond to individuals experiencing a mental health crisis.Afact sheet on H.R. 2698is available here. Endorsing organizations and lawmakers include:the NAACP Oklahoma City branch,Oklahomans for Criminal Justice Reform(OCJR), theNational Alliance on Mental Illness(NAMI)Oklahoma, thePalomar Family Justice Center, the Oklahoma Policy Institute, the Oklahoma City Housing Authority, the Oklahoma City Police Department, the Midwest City Police Department,NorthCare, Cedar Ridge Behavioral Health,Oklahoma County Commissioner CarrieBlumert, andState Representative CollinWalke. It is vitally important we have mental health training for people interacting with the public, saidGarland Pruitt,President of the NAACP Oklahoma City branch.They are there to protect and serve; this training is needed, necessary, and longoverdue. As an organization working for criminal justice reform, OCJRfully supports additional funding for training for law enforcement officers for mental health crisis response, saidOCJR Executive Director Kris Steele.Arrest rates and violent altercations would dramatically decline with additional behavioral response training. Police officers are often the first to respond to people struggling with a mental health crisis,said Palomar Family Justice Center CEO and founder Kim Garrett.In some instances, their response can literally be the difference between life and death. It is essential to provide officers with diverse techniques and training to succeed. Officers should have continued and expanded training and support to safely de-escalate crisis and get people connected to the help they need. Palomar fully supports increasing funding through the Law Enforcement Training for Mental Health Crisis Response Act. I am proud to support Congresswoman Horn's Law Enforcement Training for Mental Health Crisis Response Act,said Oklahoma County Commissioner CarrierBlumert.This specialized training will give our officers here in Oklahoma a better understanding and the tools to respond to all types of mental health needs. As a champion for MAPS 4 Mental Health, I want every officer to respond appropriately and with compassion as we work get our citizens the help they need. "Understanding mental health issues and their effects upon our criminal justice system should be a priority in order reduce incarceration rates and to ensure that those individuals who are arrested as a result of mental health issues receive the help that they need,said State Representative CollinWalke. One in every 10 calls for police response involve a personliving witha mental illness. One in every four people killed by policelive with a severe mental illness. For moreinformationon law enforcement responses to individuals living with mental illness or experiencing a mental health crisis,viewthefact sheet on H.R. 2698. TheLaw Enforcement Training for Mental Health Crisis Response Act has 25 bipartisan cosponsorsin the House of Representatives. Sen. Jim Inhofe (R-OK) and Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH) have introduced a companion bill in the Senate. ### | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z |