|
RICHMOND, VA — Governor Glenn Youngkin today joined Valley Health leaders, state officials, and community partners to celebrate the progress of the Commonwealth’s Special Conservator of the Peace (SCOP) program in Winchester. Valley Health serves as Virginia’s first hospital-based demonstration site, responding to the region’s high number of Emergency Custody Orders (ECOs) and Temporary Detention Orders (TDOs), while underscoring the need for supportive environments for individuals in crisis and stronger collaboration with law enforcement.
The SCOPs program is a central part of Governor Youngkin’s Right Help, Right Now behavioral health transformation, specifically under Pillar Two, which supports law enforcement communities by working in collaboration with systems of care to reduce the criminalization of behavioral health. By credentialing hospital security staff as SCOPs, custody of individuals under ECOs and TDOs can be transferred quickly to trained, hospital-based professionals. This model enhances safety for patients, ensures care is provided in an appropriate environment, and supports law enforcement officers in returning more quickly to their essential public safety duties.
“Virginia is pioneering a first-of-its-kind approach to responding to behavioral health crises,” said Governor Glenn Youngkin. “Through the SCOPs program, we are ensuring patients in crisis receive compassionate care in the right environment while working side-by-side with law enforcement to keep our communities safe. Valley Health is demonstrating the impact of this model, and together we are building a stronger, more responsive system for the Commonwealth.”
Since launching on August 19, Valley Health SCOPs have already assumed custody of multiple individuals, ensuring they received care in settings designed specifically for behavioral health needs. In the first days of operation, these SCOPs supported 10 individuals, saving 97.5 hours of law enforcement time. The program is expected to reach 24/7 operation by December 2025.
“The Special Conservator of the Peace program is a game changer,” said Secretary of Health and Human Resources Janet V. Kelly. “By integrating specially trained SCOPs into the hospital environment, we are giving patients dignity and care in the right setting, while making sure our law enforcement partners can focus on their mission of keeping communities safe. This is collaboration at its best.”
“Governor Youngkin made a commitment to law enforcement to get them back in their communities, and today, he is delivering on that promise,” said Commissioner of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services Nelson Smith. “This program allows them to get back to their community and provides a more therapeutic experience in our crisis system.”
The program, known locally as Mental Health Custody and Transport (MCAT), operates under a $1.1 million contract with the Virginia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services (DBHDS). It funds up to 18 full-time SCOPs, two specialized transport vehicles, and additional drivers to provide safe, trauma-informed transport for individuals under ECOs, TDOs, and Alternative Transportation Orders.
“Right Help, Right Now is about delivering solutions that work in real time,” said Hallie Pence, Executive Director of Right Help, Right Now. “The SCOPs program demonstrates that Virginia can provide safer, more compassionate care for patients while working alongside law enforcement to create stronger outcomes for everyone involved. Valley Health’s leadership is helping set the model for the future.”
“The launch of the SCOPs program at Valley Health marks a meaningful and forward-thinking step for our community,” said Kris Maddalena, Chief Nursing Officer, Valley Health Winchester Medical Center. “This initiative not only supports our dedicated law enforcement officers in returning to their vital roles of keeping our community safe but also ensures that individuals in crisis receive the care they truly need. By working together, we’re building a stronger, more caring system—one that prioritizes both public safety and the well-being of every person we serve.”
“Today’s ceremony is the realization of the hard work and dedication of many in order to help those who have found themselves in extremely difficult circumstances,” said Senator Timmy French.
“We are blessed to be on the cutting edge of addressing mental health. I am so honored to play a role in an issue that has affected families and friends throughout the Commonwealth,” said Delegate Bill Wiley. “Valley Health has a great team heading up this effort, and I am looking forward to hearing success stories in our community.”
The SCOPs initiative builds on other major achievements under the Right Help, Right Now plan, including the expansion of 988 crisis call services, more than 100 mobile crisis teams operating 24/7 statewide, new crisis receiving centers and stabilization units, and integrated 911–988 systems that better connect Virginians to the care they need.
Background
- Previous approach: Individuals under an ECO or TDO often waited hours—or even days—in emergency departments before being placed, requiring law enforcement to remain with them for extended periods instead of returning to their core safety duties.
- SCOPs solution: Specially trained hospital-based officers credentialed by the Department of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS) now assume custody, working as part of the care team in trauma-informed, therapeutic settings.
- Funding: The current state budget directs nearly $19 million to expand alternative transportation and custody programs, with up to $10 million available for SCOPs contracts with hospitals and qualified agencies.
- Impact: Since its launch on August 19, Valley Health has supported 10 individuals and saved 97.5 hours of law enforcement time, demonstrating smoother, more compassionate transitions into care while strengthening collaboration with law enforcement.
|
