In this March 2017 online article for The Police Chief Magazine, Jac Charlier described the concept of deflection as a model to connect people to substance use and mental health treatment in the community. 

This is a follow-up to the September 2015 piece, “Want to Reduce Drug Use in Your Community? You Might Want to Deflect Instead of Arrest.”

In it Charlier writes: 

"Instead of utilizing traditional police interventions (i.e., arrest, booking, and charging), deflection relies on law enforcement to be the referral source to community-based drug treatment and mental health services prior to potential crises. In this way, law enforcement opens up new treatment access points not previously available to those in need. Deflection is distinct from, but complementary with, efforts like crisis intervention teams (CIT), which are focused primarily on officer safety and situation de-escalation (both legitimate goals) at crisis points. The goal of deflection is to refer people to the help they need before such a crisis occurs."  

Reach / Scope: National