In response to ongoing changes to the demands and public expectations for law enforcement and the municipal funding available to meet those demands, local communities across the United States have increased efforts to establish alternative response models for nonviolent calls for service.

The Harris County (Texas) Department of Public Health has established Holistic Assistance Response Teams (HART) that work in support of the county Sheriff’s Office to enhance public safety. The HART teams consist of trained professionals who provide responses to citizens experiencing homelessness, behavioral health issues, mental health crises, or other non-emergency, nonviolent social issues.

Barbie Robinson, Executive Director of the Harris County Department of Public Health, joins the COPS Office beat podcast series The Beat to discuss the county’s experience with introducing this new public safety resource.

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