Governor Phil Murphy and Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin have announced a significant milestone for New Jersey’s ARRIVE Together program, which recently marked its 10,000th interaction. The initiative, launched in December 2021, aims to improve outcomes when law enforcement officers respond to calls involving mental health issues. It is now available in all of New Jersey’s 21 counties and serves over 71 percent of the state’s population.
Governor Murphy expressed the program’s impact: “When we first launched ARRIVE Together, we recognized not only its potential to save the lives of countless New Jerseyans experiencing mental health crisis but also the power to strengthen the bonds between our law enforcement officers and the communities they serve.” He highlighted strategic investments made to expand the initiative safely and efficiently across various communities.
Attorney General Platkin emphasized the need for innovative responses from law enforcement: “In New Jersey, we recognized that law enforcement officers needed new and innovative ways to respond to calls where mental health is a contributing factor. We’re seeing better outcomes for everyone when ARRIVE Together is part of the response.” He acknowledged the ongoing mental health epidemic and noted that ARRIVE is making a positive difference at its intersection with policing.
Tiffany Wilson, Director of the Office of Alternative and Community Responses, remarked on ARRIVE’s impact: “ARRIVE Together has created real change for New Jersey’s law enforcement agencies that have implemented the program.” She pointed out how partnerships formed under ARRIVE have shown benefits through collaborations between law enforcement and mental health experts.
The program adapts its models according to community needs. The original co-response model involves simultaneous responses by law enforcement officers and mental health professionals. In other models like close-in-time follow-up or telehealth, officers collaborate with mental health partners either on-site or remotely. Some counties use a combination of these models for effective responses.
ARRIVE Together reflects New Jersey’s efforts in public safety innovation by integrating existing resources rather than creating new systems independently. This approach fosters relationships that benefit entire communities.
For those experiencing a mental health crisis in New Jersey, assistance remains accessible via services such as the free 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline.
