Mental Health Center Built With Diverted Police Money

LANHAM, MD — On April 19, Prince George's County broke ground on a new mental and behavioral health facility in Lanham. The renovated center will open in the former rehabilitation office of Doctors Community Medical Center. The county will finance most of the project with $20 million of diverted police funding.

Defunding The Police

Protesters across the nation have called to "defund the police." Most of these activists understand the heavy workload officers face. They also realize that police are often dispatched to scenes where they may not be the most appropriate personnel to respond.

Those calling to defund the police point to mental health emergencies and drug addiction as situations where other professionals may be more helpful. To ease police workload and create more sensitive treatment, some advocates are urging legislators to defer a sliver of the police budget to social services.

"Police officers are not equipped to handle individuals suffering a mental health crisis, and they should not be required to do so," Prince George's County Executive Angela Alsobrooks said in a newsletter. "In the same vein, those suffering from illness should have the ability to be treated in a facility befitting their dignity and in a setting that is conducive to healing."

In this case, the shifted money was originally dedicated to a future training center for the Prince George's County Police Department. Alsobrooks insisted that police will eventually get their new building. For now, they must continue training at their Landover headquarters.

Mental Health

Alsobrooks justified the shakeup by pointing to the county's mental health, substance abuse and criminal justice challenges.

One-third of county inmates need mental health help, the county executive noted. She also estimated that about 70 percent of arrestees are intoxicated when they arrive at the jail.

"Prince George’s County has been a behavioral health desert for far too long," Alsobrooks added. "Unfortunately, we’ve seen this lack of access to adequate treatment revealed within our criminal justice system."

The county currently has two acute care units for inpatient behavioral health issues like addiction. The limited resources forced half the Prince Georgians who needed behavioral treatment to go to hospitals outside the jurisdiction.

"Our residents should not have to leave their county to seek necessary treatment," Alsobrooks declared. "With this new facility, we will ensure that does not continue to happen."

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The New Facility

The two-story center will house psychiatrists, behavioral health professionals and nurses inside its 31,200 square feet. It will also create 100 jobs at Luminis Health, the chain that owns Doctors Community Medical Center.

The first floor will be home to an 8-bed inpatient behavioral health unit. The main level, which should open this winter, will also serve outpatients battling substance abuse.

The second floor will contain a 16-bed inpatient psychiatric team. Officials do not yet know when this level will be ready.

"When I took office as County Executive, I said that we would place a greater emphasis on behavioral health and social services in our County," Alsobrooks asserted. "I am proud to say that we are delivering on that promise together. "

The Process

Alsobrooks introduced the proposal to reallocate the police funding. The Prince George's County Council agreed to let voters decide through a ballot question in the 2020 presidential election, she explained.

The four local ballot questions asked Prince Georgians if they wanted to let the county "borrow money and issue bonds" to construct facilities for:

• A: The Department of Public Works & Transportation
• B: The Prince George's County Memorial Library System
• C: Public safety offices
• D: County services
• E: Prince George's Community College

All five referenda passed, carrying at least 77 percent of the vote.

"I am proud that we have come together as a County to prioritize greater access to services for those struggling with mental health issues and substance use disorders," Alsobrooks concluded. "We know the need is so great."

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Have a story idea? Please contact me at jacob.baumgart@patch.com with any pitches, tips or questions. Follow me on Twitter @JacobBaumgart and on Facebook @JacobBaumgartJournalist to stay up-to-date with the latest Anne Arundel County and Prince George's County news.