Revolutionizing Crisis Response: How Morris County’s ARRIVE Together Program is Building Safer, Healthier Communities

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Morris County is taking a groundbreaking approach to public safety and mental health, demonstrating a statewide commitment to compassionate and effective crisis intervention. The innovative ARRIVE Together program, a collaboration between the Morris County Prosecutor’s Office and the Mental Health Association (MHA) of Essex and Morris Counties, has significantly expanded its reach, now serving nearly every municipality in Morris County.

This bold initiative reflects a deeper understanding of how to best support individuals in crisis, ensuring their well-being while enhancing the safety of both residents and law enforcement officers.

A Program Built on Collaboration and Care

The core of the ARRIVE Together program lies in its unique partnership. When a call comes in about an individual experiencing a mental health or behavioral crisis, law enforcement responds, often accompanied or quickly followed by a trained mental health clinician from the MHA. Once police officers secure the scene, the mental health professional steps in to engage with the person in crisis, or their family, to de-escalate the situation and connect them with vital services.

This “close-in-time” response is crucial, allowing for immediate, specialized support. But the program doesn’t stop there. MHA clinicians also conduct follow-up visits, ensuring sustained support and linking individuals and their families to a wide array of resources. This can include everything from behavioral and mental health access to substance use treatment, housing assistance, grief counseling, and other essential services.

The impact of this approach is already clear. MHA clinicians have provided critical assistance in diverse situations, from de-escalating suicidal individuals and supporting families with school-resistant children to providing comfort during death notifications and aiding in domestic violence incidents and criminal investigations. They’ve even helped connect individuals to essential resources like 211 during Code Blue emergencies, highlighting the comprehensive nature of their support.

Expanding the Network of Support

Morris County’s commitment to this forward-thinking model is evident in its rapid expansion. Following successful pilot programs launched in November 2023 in municipalities like Denville, Hanover, Madison, Montville, Morris Plains, Morris Township, Morristown, Parsippany-Troy Hills, Randolph, and Roxbury, the program has now welcomed an additional twenty-five towns. This includes the Town of Boonton, Boonton Township, Butler, Chatham Borough, Chatham Township, Chester, Dover, East Hanover, Florham Park, Harding Township, Jefferson, Kinnelon, Lincoln Park, Long Hill Township, Mendham Borough, Mendham Township, Mount Arlington, Mountain Lakes, Netcong, Pequannock, Riverdale, Rockaway Borough, Rockaway Township, Washington Township, and Wharton. Mount Olive Township offers similar services through a separate federal grant. This widespread adoption means that a vast majority of Morris County residents now have access to this critical support system.

Beyond Immediate Response: A Comprehensive Approach

The Morris County Prosecutor’s Office, in collaboration with MHA, has also implemented the ARRIVE Critical Incident Model. This crucial extension ensures that a mental health professional is available 24/7, 365 days a year, for incidents involving barricaded individuals who may be experiencing a medical or mental health crisis. This continuous availability underscores a profound commitment to addressing complex situations with the right expertise.

By allowing mental health professionals to handle the intricacies of behavioral health calls, law enforcement officers can focus more effectively on their primary duties of investigating and prosecuting criminal offenses. This strategic partnership directly contributes to the program’s overarching goals: increasing connections to vital mental health services, reducing arrests and the use of force, and ultimately, building stronger trust between law enforcement and the communities they serve.

A Statewide Model for the Future

The ARRIVE Together initiative is a testament to New Jersey’s commitment to innovative public safety. Funded through a state budget appropriation and overseen by the New Jersey Office of the Attorney General’s Office of Alternative and Community Responses (OACR), the program is rapidly becoming a national model.

Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin highlights the program’s success, noting that “ARRIVE Together partnerships have made New Jersey a national model for changing the way we respond when law enforcement intersects with behavioral health emergencies. Currently, more than 71% of New Jersey’s 9.5 million residents have access to ARRIVE programs and there have been more than 10,000 successful ARRIVE interactions.” Tiffany Wilson, Director of the OACR, echoes this sentiment, emphasizing Morris County’s leadership: “The countywide expansion of ARRIVE shows Morris County’s commitment to increasing access to the benefits law enforcement and residents are already seeing from the program.”

As of June 25, 2025, Morris County alone has recorded an impressive 1,226 ARRIVE Together interactions, showcasing the tangible impact of this forward-thinking program.

Building Bridges in the Community

The success of ARRIVE Together isn’t just measured in statistics; it’s seen in the strengthened relationships within the community. Members of the ARRIVE Together team are actively engaged in community outreach throughout Morris County, introducing the program and sharing its positive impact. They are available to meet with community groups, schools, and organizations to discuss the program and its profound benefits to residents.

Prosecutor Robert J. Carroll underscores this holistic approach: “Morris County law enforcement recognizes the importance of ensuring the safety of every person involved in a civilian-officer interaction. By partnering with the Mental Health Association of Essex and Morris Counties, our officers can connect those they encounter experiencing a behavioral health crisis with the best possible remedial alternatives. How law enforcement responds to mental health emergencies is evolving. ARRIVE Together, alongside Crisis Intervention Training and the MCPO’s Mental Health and Veteran’s Diversion Program, strives to ensure the best possible treatment and outcomes for individuals with mental illness who become involved with the criminal justice system.”

Morris County’s ARRIVE Together program is a shining example of how collaboration, compassion, and innovation can transform public safety, fostering a healthier and more supportive environment for all. For more information on initiatives like this and other important topics related to law and order in our state, visit Explore New Jersey’s Law & Order section.

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