Police departments in many parts of the world have set up specific programs with crisis intervention teams to facilitate police contact with the mentally ill.

Focusing chiefly on jurisdictions in Australia, this volume also examines several of these programs in North America, Europe, and parts of the developing world.

The 16 chapters in this book offer a wide range of cross-cultural perspectives on this essential aspect of policing, enabling police practitioners to develop a best practices approach to managing their interactions with this vulnerable segment of the community.