Charlotte’s Council Tackles Mental Health Crisis in Justice System
A New Approach to Public Safety
Charlotte’s newly formed Safety Council Committee convened for the first time on Monday, focusing on the intersection of mental health, substance abuse, and public safety following a series of high-profile crimes in the Queen City. The committee meeting comes after the deadly stabbing of Iryna Zarutska and other incidents that have placed public safety and mental health intervention under scrutiny.
“The thrust of this referral is really focused on that intersection point between mental health, public safety and quality of life,” said Shawn Heath, deputy city manager for Charlotte. City leaders emphasized that addressing public safety requires more than traditional law enforcement.
“We fully understand as a committee and as a council that public safety doesn’t equate to law enforcement solely,” said Council Member Dante Anderson, the committee’s chair.
Mental Health Challenges in the Justice System
Committee members cited concerning data showing the prevalence of mental health issues among those entering the justice system. According to city officials, a survey of 175 detained youth found nearly 98% carried at least one mental health diagnosis.
“There’s a difference with identifying there is a mental health challenge and then actually trying to address or trying to get that person the right resources,” Anderson said.
The committee discussed existing programs aimed at prevention and diversion, including:
- Juvenile diversion programs
- Alternatives to violence initiatives
- Street outreach
- Hospital-based violence prevention programs
Training for Law Enforcement
Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department Chief Estella Patterson said better training for officers could also make a difference during initial encounters.
“I do agree and feel that all of our officers should be CIT (crisis intervention team) certified, have that baseline at least so that if they encounter somebody that is exhibiting characteristics of mental health issues they can mitigate it until we can get assistance so they can get the wraparound services they need,” Patterson said.
Dozens of sworn CMPD officers have participated in CIT training, according to city officials.
Financial Challenges and Legislative Support
Committee members acknowledged that expanding successful programs requires significant resources, many of which must come from the state.
“It’s really a financial problem,” said Council Member Dimple Ajmera. “We need more money for the DA’s office. We need more funding for the judicial system, and we need more funding for the mental health support, and all of that comes from the state.”
Council Member Ed Driggs referenced the impact of recent incidents on the city’s reputation.
“The brutal murder of Iryna Zarutska put us in the spotlight,” Driggs said, adding that it has focused attention on mental health issues and the need for legislative support.
Early Intervention and Community Accountability
Anderson emphasized the importance of early intervention before criminal justice involvement occurs.
“We have to educate our community on what mental health challenges are and how do we begin to intervene … interception at that zero point before there is an arrest, offense or crime made,” Anderson said. “And we have to do that in our schools, our homes. We have to make sure parents and we as a community are accountable.”
Progress and Future Steps
Council Member Malcolm Graham described public safety as “a marathon, not a sprint” and noted progress in addressing concerns across transit, Beatties Ford Road, and Ballantyne.
“What we have seen and what we have done, even going back to August, has been really meaningful work in terms of addressing a wide variety of public safety concerns,” Graham said.
City leaders plan to continue discussions at a strategic retreat later this month, where they will examine which programs are working, how to measure success and what funding gaps need to be addressed.
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