Testimony on Mental Health Crisis Response and Daniel’s Law

New York must fundamentally transform the role of policing in our state – and we must start by ending our over-reliance on police as first responders in every crisis. Daniel’s Law builds on crisis intervention models that have successfully reduced police-based response to people experiencing mental health or drug use. No New Yorker should die at the hands of the police because they have a disability, struggle with their mental health, or have used drugs. Daniel’s Law promises a future where that is possible.