Concentrations and Specialization of Mental Health–Related Calls for Police Service

Abstract

Over the past two decades, research has consistently shown that criminal activity concentrates at places. Places also exhibit specialization in criminal activity, largely based on criminal opportunities. However, recent research has also shown that criminal events are only a relatively small fraction of calls for police service, generally 20–30%. The authors investigate the spatial concentrations and spatial specialization of mental health–related calls for police service in a number of municipalities in British Columbia. Overall, the authors find that mental health–related calls are more concentrated in space than criminal events and that specialization relates to social- and health-related services for the mentally ill.