Buncombe County is located in North Carolina and is classified within Western North Carolina with a population of 269,452, making it the 7th-most populous county in North Carolina. Buncombe County is part of the Ashville, NC Metropolitan Statistical Area.
The Buncombe County Sheriff’s Office (BCSO) will use FY24 PACT funding to enhance its Co-Responder Program. This program aims to provide timely and effective responses to behavioral health crises by integrating additional behavioral health clinicians into crisis response teams, alongside law enforcement and paramedics. The primary purpose of the PACT program is to reduce arrests and improve community safety by addressing behavioral health and substance use emergencies through de-escalation and resource linkage. Key activities include expanding operational hours, increasing the number of trained responders, and enhancing data collection for continuous program evaluation. Partners in this initiative include Emergency Services’ Community Paramedic program and local behavioral health organizations. The project will foster stronger community relations, reduce the use of force, and provide comprehensive support to individuals in crisis. Cohort 2024.
Program Goals
- The program aims to minimize arrests by addressing behavioral health and substance use crises effectively.
- By addressing crises with appropriate resources and responses, the program seeks to improve overall safety in the community.
- The program focuses on managing crises related to mental health and substance use through de-escalation techniques and connecting individuals to relevant resources.
- Extending the availability of the program to ensure timely responses during behavioral health emergencies.
- Building a stronger, more capable team to respond to crises effectively.
- Gathering data to assess the effectiveness of the program and make continuous improvements.
- Strengthening relationships between law enforcement, behavioral health professionals, and the community through collaborative efforts.
- Minimizing the need for force by using trained responders and de-escalation techniques during crises.
- Providing individuals experiencing a crisis with the appropriate resources and care, ensuring their needs are fully addressed.
Key Partnership Organizations
Buncombe County Sheriff’s Office | Community Paramedics | Behavioral Health Urgent Care | RHA Outpatient Services
Learn More
Sheriff’s Office – Crisis Intervention Team Program – Buncombe County | Asheville
A Way Out: Specialized training helps law enforcement respond to mental health crisis call
Co-Responder – Buncombe County Sheriff
“When you take this program, you have these ‘ah-ha’ moments, like, ‘Oh, if I say these phrases, if I use this technique or if I call this particular service provider, I’m able to move this person from this place of crisis to some type of stabilization.”(ABC News 13-WLOS Oct. 11, 2023)
Sergeant Bryan Freeborn
Buncombe County Sheriff’s Office
Support Operations