Durbin to Chair Hearing on Law Enforcement Responses To Disabled Americans
Top Law-Enforcement Officials and Mother of Ethan Saylor set to testify
DURBIN TO CHAIR HEARING ON LAW ENFORCEMENT RESPONSES TO DISABLED AMERICANS
Top Law-Enforcement Officials and Mother of Ethan Saylor set to testify
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] – Assistant Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) announced today that he will chair a hearing before the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights and Human Rights to examine state and local law enforcement efforts to develop procedures and training for law enforcement officers who have increasingly become the first responders for in-crisis individuals with mental illness or disabilities.
The hearing entitled “Law Enforcement Responses to Disabled Americans: Promising Approaches for Protecting Public Safety” will begin at 10:00 AM ET on Tuesday, April 29, 2014 in Room 216 of the Hart Senate Office Building.
Recent high-profile tragedies - including the death of Ethan Saylor, a 26-year old man with Down Syndrome who was killed last year by three off-duty officers at a movie theater in Maryland - have demonstrated the need for law enforcement officers to receive additional training to safely address these situations.
State and local law enforcement agencies have taken the lead in developing innovative solutions, such as Crisis Intervention Teams. Localities that use these approaches have seen fewer injuries and deaths among officers and people with mental illness or developmental / intellectual disabilities, increased jail diversion rates, fewer lawsuits following crisis incidents, and stronger ties with the mental health and disability communities. The hearing will explore how Congress and the Executive Branch can support these state and local efforts.
Witness List
Witnesses will testify on two panels. Panel one will feature: The Department of Justice’s Bureau of Justice Assistance Director, The Honorable Denise E. O’Donnell.
Panel two will include: Chicago Police Department First Deputy Superintendent, Alfonza Wysinger; Plano Police Department Sergeant, A.D. Paul; Fourth Judicial District of Minnesota Judge, The Honorable Jay M. Quam; Mental Health Advocate and Best Selling Author, Pete Earley; and the National Down Syndrome Society's Advocate of the Year and mother of Ethan Saylor, Patti Saylor.
Who: Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin
What: Hearing entitled, “Law Enforcement Responses to Disabled Americans: Promising Approaches for Protecting Public Safety”
When: Tuesday, April 29, 2014
10:00 AM ET
Where: Room 216
Hart Senate Office Building
Washington, D.C.