Emergency Psychiatric Evaluation of People Under Arrest: Recommendations From a Participatory Policymaking Symposium

Columbia University's Justice-Involved Behavioral Health Workgroup held a symposium about emergency psychiatric evaluations of people under arrest, using a participatory policymaking approach. Four principles emerged to guide emergency departments when developing patient-centered policies: psychiatric evaluation of patients under arrest should be based on clinical presentation, not custody status; peer specialists should be employed in psychiatric emergency settings; use of restraints by law enforcement should be limited during emergency psychiatric care; and private space should be allocated for psychiatric evaluations.