The City of Jersey City is the latest municipality to participate in the State of New Jersey’s ARRIVE Together de-escalation program, officials announced today.
By John Heinis/Hudson County View
“Since its inception, ARRIVE Together has enhanced New Jersey law enforcement officers’ response to mental health emergencies. This model has proven to be a valuable tool in our efforts to quickly and efficiently connect our residents with help during times of mental distress,” Gov. Phil Murphy (D) said in a statement.
“Now operating in Jersey City – our state’s second largest city – this program will continue to make a difference for those in need and save lives. I am pleased to see this program continue to expand its footprint across our state, ensuring that we meet our most vulnerable residents where they are with critical de-escalation strategies that streamline the delivery of mental health supports while uplifting public safety.”
Jersey City will use a co-response and follow-up model. Plain-clothed police officers and mental health professionals from Jersey City Medical Center will respond jointly after the call has been identified as appropriate for a co-response or follow-up.
It will operate two to three days a week initially and expand as JCMC expands its staffing. The Jersey City Police Department intends to also incorporate its police chaplain program to provide additional support to individuals and their families, when appropriate.
The City of Bayonne, though a partnership with the Hudson County Sheriff’s Office, announced they would join the program, which stands for Alternative Responses to Reduce Instances of Violence and Escalation, in April 2023.
“ARRIVE Together is a national model with a proven track record of improving outcomes for individuals who encounter law enforcement while in need of mental health services, and implementing the program gives Jersey City’s law enforcement officers an important tool for responding to calls with a mental health element,” added Attorney General Matt Platkin.
“We are building a safer, more compassionate New Jersey with every community that adopts the initiative, and I’m happy that Jersey City will be a part of that. We appreciate the ongoing support of Governor Murphy and the Legislature in continuing to expand this groundbreaking program.”
Since ARRIVE was implemented in December 2021, increases in funding – including a $549,750 competitive federal grant – have allowed the program to expand to all 21 counties in the state, serving more than 50 percent of New Jersey’s 9.3 million residents.
The Fiscal Year 2025 budget allocates $20.1 million to maintain current ARRIVE programs and support expansion.
This past March,Platkin issued a directive formally establishing the Office of Alternative and Community Responses (OACR) to support, coordinate, and spearhead initiatives – including ARRIVE Together – aimed at how the Department of Law and Public Safety and New Jersey’s law enforcement agencies respond to public health crises, such as significant substance use disorders and mental health issues, through a lens of public safety.
“Pairing law enforcement officers with mental and behavioral health professionals allows each expert to do what they do best. ARRIVE Together partnerships lead to better outcomes,” noted Office of Alternative and Community Responses Director Tiffany Wilson.
The ARRIVE Together pilot began with a plainclothes trooper from the New Jersey State Police paired with a mental health screener from the Cumberland County Guidance Center, responding to 9-1-1 calls related to mental and behavioral health emergencies in an unmarked vehicle.
As the program expanded, ARRIVE models have been customized to fit the unique needs, resources, and priorities of the communities in which they operate.
There have been no arrests related to an ARRIVE interaction, no serious injuries, and no uses of force except during interactions involving involuntary transport at the direction of a mental health screener in the nearly 5,000 ARRIVE interactions recorded to date.
“RWJBarnabas Health is proud to once again be a part of this collaborative effort of delivering screening and supportive behavioral health care in partnership with law enforcement officers in order to facilitate safer and more compassionate care to the communities we serve, together,” stated RWJBarnabas Health Senior Vice President of Behavioral Health Services and President and CEO of Rutgers University Behavioral Health Care Frank Ghinassi.
“Jersey City Medical Center participates in the ARRIVE Together program in Bayonne with local law enforcement and looks forward to now working with the Jersey City Police Department in this unique partnership that enhances mental health care to those at their most vulnerable.”
Every since Andrew Washington was fatally shot by Jersey City police after wielding a knife during a mental episode inside his apartment in August 2023, activists have called on the city to make ARRIVE Together a priority.
When Jersey City officials unveiled the $6 million Public Safety De-Escalation and Training Center last month, Public Safety Director James Shea touched on the concerns he had with the program.
“What they do is they respond after the police response. So, we’re perfectly willing to go along with that, the more services we can provide to people in mental crisis, the better,” he said at the time.
“… But we’re concerned with the way it’s presented to the public, and the public believes that will be an alternative that can respond instead of the police, when the truth is that they will not respond until the police secure the scene, just like is happening now.”
However, in light of the Anti-Violence Coalition of Hudson County receiving a $2 million state grant to create Jersey City’s Community Crisis Response Team Pilot Program, the city felt now was the time to implement ARRIVE Together.
“We are pleased to partner with the AG’s Office to implement this program and further build upon our public safety efforts. We have reached the lowest homicide rate on record in Jersey City, and we continue to see historic reductions in crime year after year in the state’s second-largest city,” explained Mayor Steven Fulop, also a Democratic candidate for governor.
“Our strategic public safety initiatives are clearly making a difference, and we are always willing to try new initiatives that look to further improve public safety for our residents. People in crisis are among our most vulnerable citizens, and we will never stop seeking ways to serve them better.”
Anyone experiencing a mental health crisis – in addition to struggling with substance use or having thoughts of suicide – can call the free 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline to be connected to compassionate, accessible care and support. New Jersey residents can call or text 988 and chat 988 at 988lifeline.org/chat for round-the-clock assistance.
“Law enforcement officers are often called upon to assist individuals who are experiencing a mental health crisis. In these situations, there is no one size fits all approach to best meet the needs of those we are sworn to serve,” said Hudson County Prosecutor Esther Suarez.
“The Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office has always supported collaborative initiatives that promote public safety and connect those in crisis with lifesaving resources. Our Office is committed to assisting both the Attorney General’s Office and our municipal partners in expanding the ARRIVE Together program in Hudson County.”
Jersey City Ward E Councilman James Solomon, a declared candidate for mayor who applauded the grant to the Anti-Violence Coalition of Hudson County, also expressed excitement about joining ARRIVE Together.
“Despite many hurdles, I’m proud that Jersey City will now be participating in the state’s ARRIVE program for mental health response,” he stated.
“While this will initially be a smaller scale initiative, we know that ARRIVE has been proven to reduce instances of use of force and arrests, instead providing critical services to people experiencing acute mental health crises from qualified professional responders. This program will be a massive step forward and I am committed to its successful implementation and ultimate expansion to a 24/7 core city function.”
Another candidate for mayor, former Gov. Jim McGreevey, pushed for the city to participate in ARRIVE Together roughly 48 hours after Washington’s death.
“We pray for Andrew, family, & all involved. Intersection of mental health & criminal justice is difficult. 1st, engage ARRIVE Together, NJAG initiative to respond to emergencies. 2nd, need better, efficient follow-up for those with mental health disorders & courage to reach out,” he wrote on X.
