The U.S. Department of Justice joined a legal battle against the City of New York, claiming that the city's current emergency response system discriminates against people with mental disabilities.

In a statement of interest filed by the DOJ, federal officials argue that the city’s practice of sending police officers to respond to mental health emergencies may violate the Americans with Disabilities Act. The filing suggests that the reliance on law enforcement in these situations "denies people with mental disabilities an equal opportunity to benefit from the City’s emergency response program."

The lawsuit contends that police officers are not adequately trained to handle mental health crises. According to the plaintiffs, this has led to harmful outcomes for individuals experiencing mental health emergencies, with some even suffering injuries during these encounters. While New York City does have an alternative response program known as B-HEARD, which deploys health professionals instead of police officers, the plaintiffs argue that it is not used frequently enough.

The DOJ’s involvement is seen as a push for the city to expand the B-HEARD program to ensure that people in crisis receive appropriate care and to minimize the risk of harm.

In response, Nicholas Paolucci, a spokesperson for the city's law department, stated that “The City's practices with respect to mental health-related calls to 911 are consistent with the requirements of the Constitution and federal and state law.”

The DOJ hopes that changes will be made to improve how New York City handles mental health emergencies as the case continues in court.