Daniel's Law
NY
Campaign Development, Report Writing, Digital Advocacy
In March 2020, Daniel Prude was experiencing an acute mental health crisis when his family called 911 for help. He was naked in the street, and posed no risk to any other person. Yet, Rochester Police responded in force, handcuffed him, placed a hood over his head, and held him face down on the cold pavement until he stopped breathing. Daniel Prude was mocked and treated cruelly by officers with no understanding of his needs. Daniel Prude was a man experiencing an obvious mental health crisis, and he deserved care and dignity – but he was denied both. Instead, police killed him.
The Crisis
Daniel Prude's death exposed a critical failure in our emergency response systems. When people in mental health crises call for help, they deserve support and care—not violence. The current system sends armed police officers to respond to mental health emergencies, often resulting in tragic outcomes for vulnerable individuals.
Our Response
To support the coalition effort for passing Daniel's Law in New York State, we developed a comprehensive social media toolkit (Catalyst Kit) explaining the importance of passing Daniel's Law and urging support for it across the state. The graphics and toolkit were utilized by various organizations to bring attention to elected officials on prioritizing this critical issue.
The Reality
People experiencing mental health crises are significantly more likely to encounter violence during police interactions. These statistics underscore the urgent need for alternative crisis response systems that prioritize care over enforcement.
What is Daniel's Law?
Daniel's Law provides a pathway for true community safety by connecting people in crisis with the services and supports they truly need. Daniel's Law will provide 24/7 crisis response units consisting of trained mental health workers, peers and EMTs to respond to people in crisis. These crisis response units will become the default response to people experiencing mental health or substance use crises.
This transformative approach reimagines public safety by prioritizing mental health support, dignity, and care over criminalization and violence. It represents a fundamental shift in how we respond to people in crisis.
The Campaign Toolkit
We created a comprehensive social media toolkit to amplify the message of Daniel's Law across New York State. The Catalyst Kit includes graphics, messaging frameworks, and advocacy materials designed to educate the public and mobilize support among elected officials.
The Work:
- →Designed 3rd Year #DanielsLaw Anniversary Graphics
- →Developed Digital Advocacy Campaign
- →Established Narrative Toolkit for Coalition
Budget Priorities
The Impact
The social media graphics and toolkit were utilized by various organizations across New York State to bring attention to elected officials on prioritizing this critical issue. By amplifying Daniel Prude's story and the urgent need for reform, we helped build momentum for systemic change in how our state responds to mental health crises.
"Daniel Prude deserved care and dignity. Daniel's Law ensures that future crises are met with compassion, not violence."
Ready to Advocate for Change?
Let's work together to amplify your message and drive meaningful policy change in your community.