A new public dashboard from Atlanta’s Policing Alternatives and Diversion Initiative shows a growing number of Atlantans are calling 311 for non-emergency supportive services, but still rely on 911 for a majority of calls.
Since 2021, PAD has responded to calls that otherwise would have gone to the police, such as addressing someone experiencing a mental health crisis or someone in need of housing assistance. Services are available citywide but only Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to midnight.
PAD already publishes monthly reports on calls for service but the new dashboard allows the public to see local-level data sorted by city council district, neighborhood planning unit or police zone. From January to March, PAD doubled the number of 311 calls over the same period last year. But this year 911 still received over 12 times as many calls for similar services during PAD’s operating hours…