In a major effort to assist police with the mentally ill and drug abusers, Denver is taking steps to assist officers by adding mental health professionals to police teams and pushing for drug offenders to get help instead of jail time.

As reported by The Denver Post, “In one tactic, mental health professionals ride with officers during 911 responses and some routine patrols. In another, local communities place case managers into high-crime areas to help police keep drug users, prostitutes and other offenders out of the criminal justice system.  Several law enforcement agencies in Colorado already are using these strategies. The Colorado Department of Human Services is pushing further, planning to distribute $16 million over the next three years to support such efforts. The state will award $5.3 million this month. As many as 12 police departments could use the money to emphasize treatment over incarceration.”