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By Greg deGiere, Civil Rights Advocate, The Arc of California
A sweeping new statewide plan released by California Attorney General Rob Bonta could significantly improve how law enforcement interacts with people with intellectual and developmental disabilities and mental health conditions—interactions that too often escalate with harmful or tragic outcomes.
The plan is the result of two years of work by a statewide advisory council created through Senate Bill 882, sponsored by The Arc & UCP California Collaboration, the Association of Regional Center Agencies, and the United Domestic Workers, and authored by former Senator Susan Eggman.
The council’s 85-page report outlines a roadmap for change, calling on the Legislature, the Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST), and the Department of Developmental Services to act on:
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- Expanded and alternative crisis response models;
- Systemwide interventions to reduce escalation;
- Improved training through regional centers and the Department of Education.
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California Department of Justice (DOJ) released a summary of key recommendations, alongside the full report and appendices.
“Existing research shows that people with mental health conditions or intellectual and developmental disabilities are more likely to have potentially heightened or escalated interactions with law enforcement,” Bonta said in a press release by the DOJ. “This report represents a critical step forward in improving those responses through data-driven solutions.”
For example, one study indicated that 19.5% of youth with autism in the United States had been stopped by police by age 21, while another study indicated that comparatively, only 10% of the general population in the United States had experienced police contact in 2020. Statistics like these demonstrates the need for reforms.
The advisory council was led by Chair Jim Frazier, former Assemblymember and Director of Public Policy for The Arc of California, and Vice Chair Astrid Zuniga, President of the United Domestic Workers and Chair of the California Democratic Party’s labor caucus. The council includes leaders across disability, mental health, labor, aging, education, and public safety sectors.
“I want to make sure that when this report goes out, we pursue it to ensure that it is followed up on. There are still gaps,” said Council Chair Frazier. “Society has always undervalued the SB 882 population, but if you spend any time with people in this population, you know that they are important members of our communities and deserve our respect.”
The recommendations will take sustained legislative and systems change to implement, and advocacy efforts are already underway to move them forward. With strong support from the Attorney General’s office, there is growing momentum to turn these recommendations into real-world impact. We will keep you updated on any new developments.
Click HERE to view report.