Alternatives to Calling the Police

 

Download the flyer!

Read the report: The Case for the Abolition of the Harvard University Police Department

ASK YOURSELF BEFORE CALLING THE POLICE…

  1. Is this merely an inconvenience? Can I put up with this and be okay?

  2. No, I need to respond. Can I handle this on my own? Can I talk it out with the other person?

  3. No, I need backup. Is there a friend or neighbor I could call to help me?

  4. No, I need more backup. Can we use mediation to talk it through or is there a hotline I can call?

  5. No. If I call the police, do I understand someone may be killed, injured, or abused?

Don’t be a cop! When calling these resources to “help” someone else, get consent first.

Disclaimer: While these resources are alternatives to calling the police, there is no guarantee these orgs will not call 911 if they deem necessary.

IN CAMBRIDGE…

THEFT AND PROPERTY RECOVERY

Nationally, police “solve” fewer than 1 in 5 property crimes like theft. In most cases, property is not recovered. If you have renters’ insurance, check your deductible (below that, insurance pays nothing) and process for reimbursement.

MENTAL HEALTH AND SUBSTANCE ABUSE

Mental Health Emergency Crisis Intervention: on-site psych evals for most insured/MassHealth clients: 1-800-981-4357

National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1-800-273-8255 or chat online suicidepreventionlifeline.org/chat/

Substance Use Helpline: call for substance use treatment, detox, & recovery services: 1-800-327-5050

CASPAR FirstStep Outreach Team: on-site rapid response overdose prevention and help for homeless people in crisis. Based out of 240 Albany St. shelter: 617-592-6895

Access-Needle Exchange: free Narcan & clean needles – (617) 599-0246 – 359 Green St.

VIOLENCE PREVENTION

Emerge: group therapy and anger management for people who want to change their abusive behavior 617- 547-9879 or email info@emergedv.com

Parents Helping Parents: free stress management hotline and parental support groups 1-800-632-8188

OTHER HEALTH

Poison Control Expert Hotline: 1-800-222-1222

Cambridge EMS: Non-emergency medical needs including free home visit or for answers to medical questions (for Cambridge residents only) 608-423-3511

Bridge Over Troubled Waters: mobile medical van for emergency & preventative health care for youth ages 14-24 experiencing homelessness 617-423-9575

MATERIAL AID

Material Aid and Advocacy Program: links to support services and resources for COVID times and beyond www.maapma.org/covid19resources

SURVIVORS OF VIOLENCE

Boston Area Rape Crisis Center (BARCC): 24/7 crisis hotline & long-term services 1-800-841-8371 or chat online barcc.org/help/services/hotline

Safelink: 24/7 hotline for domestic violence counseling, emergency housing, and more services 877-785-2020

Transition House: 24/7 hotline for support, safety planning, and connection to resources (617) 661-7203

Cambridge Health Alliance

• Victim crisis intervention and response: 617-591-6033

• Victim resources and safety planning: (617) 665-2992

• Center for Homicide Bereavement: crisis intervention and counseling for homicide survivors 617-591-6123

Report Hate Crimes

• Council on American-Islamic Relations of MA: cairma.org

• Mass Transgender Political Coalition: masstpcs.org

SAFETY BEYOND POLICING

Know your neighborhood. Introduce yourself to your neighbors, learn their names, make a list of their phone numbers, say hello when you walk by. Check in with vulnerable neighbors.

Learn bystander intervention, de-escalation, and street harassment responses. ihollaback.org.

Learn First Aid & CPR. cambridgeareaems.com/events/.

Pods and pod-mapping: who are the people you can can call on if you’ve been harmed, caused harm, or witnessed harm? bit.ly/PodsResource.

PLANTING SEEDS OF ABOLITION

1. Join or support local organizing efforts.

• The Black Response (@Black_Response)

• Community For Us By Us (@CommunityFUBU)

• Driving Families Forward

• Building Up People Not Prisons Coalition

• SURJ Boston

• City Life / Vida Urbana

2. Learn from elsewhere. Cure Violence is a public health anti-violence program in 10 US cities proven to reduce shootings and killings with trained street violence interrupters and outreach, public ed, campaigns, and community action.

3. Learn more about transformative justice at TransformHarm.org & creative-interventions.org/tools/.