Hanover County is in urgent need of a better mental health crisis response system.

According to the most recent data:

• Hanover has just 1 mental health provider for every 510 residents, worse than both the state average (450:1) and national average (340:1).
• From 2017 to 2020, the county’s suicide rate was 17.7 per 100,000 people—far higher than Virginia (13.4) and U.S. (13.9) averages.
• People with serious mental illness are 10x more likely to experience use of force in police interactions.
• From 2015 to 2020, 25% of all fatal police shootings involved someone with a mental illness.

The Marcus Alert, passed by the Virginia General Assembly in 2020, creates a better way. It ensures that trained mental health professionals, not just police officers, respond to behavioral health crises—reducing trauma and preventing deadly escalations.

The Marcus Alert does the following:

• Links 911 dispatch to local mental health crisis call centers (988)
• Sends mental health crisis teams (without police, when possible) or co-response teams (with trained officers)
• Focuses on de-escalation, safety, and care
• Requires data transparency and training

Many Virginia localities have already adopted Marcus Alert systems. Hanover County has not.

We believe Hanover County should take immediate action to:

• Fully implement the Marcus Alert
• Coordinate 911 with 988 and local crisis teams
• Train all officers in Crisis Intervention
• Fund and deploy mobile crisis teams
• Provide safe, health-based alternatives to jail for those in crisis

Mental illness is not a crime. People in crisis deserve help, not handcuffs.

We urge Hanover County officials to take action now—to protect lives, reduce trauma, and support mental health with dignity and compassion.

Sign and share this petition to show your support. Together, we can bring the Marcus Alert to Hanover County and save lives.