Document Type
Article
Publication Date
8-2023
Department
Social Justice and Community Engagement
Abstract
This project examines the idea of police abolition and presents tangible alternative responses that more comprehensively address the complex issues arising from drug overdoses and mental health crises. Through secondary data analysis, this major research project explores police resource allocation, history, and theories of abolition, drawing parallels between initiatives in both Canada and the United States that present alternative responses to police involvement. This research helps to demonstrate the feasibility of non-police solutions to drug overdoses and mental health crises, highlighting their effectiveness in delivering compassionate, non-violent responses that prioritize the health and well-being of those in need of help and their communities. By examining existing police alternatives arising out of the communities that live with these challenges, this project adds to the ongoing dialogue on police abolition, inspiring readers to begin questioning the purpose of the police and considering what alternative means of creating public safety can look like.
Recommended Citation
Coady, Sean, "What We Build In Its Place: Police Abolition and Alternative Responses to Drug Overdoses and Mental Health Crises in Canada and the United States" (2023). Social Justice and Community Engagement Major Research Papers. 9.
https://scholars.wlu.ca/sjce_mrp/9