NYLPI - New York Lawyers for the Public Interest Inc.

04/17/2024 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 04/17/2024 14:48

Joe Prude and the Daniel’s Law Coalition Call for Pilot Funding in NYS Fiscal Year 2025 Budget

Joe Prude and the Daniel's Law Coalition Call for Pilot Funding in NYS Fiscal Year 2025 Budget

April 17, 2024

Baerga v. City of New York, CCIT-NYC, Community Justice, Daniel's Law, Disability Justice, Health Justice, Media Coverage, News, Transforming Mental Health Crisis Response, de la Cruz vs. NYC

It has been just over four years since Daniel Prude died of asphyxiation after being restrained by police officers when experiencing a mental health crisis in Rochester. Daniel's death was both tragic and preventable, like many other deaths following police interactions during a mental health emergency. Far too many people have died at the hands of the police because New York has not invested in appropriate health responses as an alternative to police for mental health and substance use-related emergencies.

Since Daniel's death, his family, mental health advocates, and New Yorkers who are directly affected by the crisis response system have been pushing for the passage of Daniel's Law, which would create teams of peers - individuals with lived mental health experience - and EMTs to be the primary responders for these health emergencies when police are not required. Although the NYS Legislature and Governor Hochul have failed to pass Daniel's Law this year, they must still act now to fund pilot programs to begin testing proper implementation of this desperately needed change to our system. We urge the Governor and Legislature to honor Daniel Prude - and the many others whose lives have been lost unnecessarily - by funding a pilot program to finally offer New Yorkers in need the correct health response during a health emergency.

Read the full Daniel's Law Coalition's press release here.