A Documentary & Impact Campaign
Uncarcerated
Shifting from handcuffs to health.
Now Streaming · representjustice.org/uncarcerated
See all screenings →“We don’t call a plumber to fix an electrical short. Why do we dispatch an armed officer to handle a mental health crisis?”
The Problem: Jails as De Facto Mental Health Institutions
For decades we have defaulted to law enforcement to answer mental health crises, substance use, and homelessness — treating public health issues as crimes, and trapping vulnerable people in a revolving door of incarceration that never addresses the root cause.
of people in U.S. jails and prisons navigate a substance use disorder; 44% have a documented history of mental illness.
Bureau of Justice Statisticswhere the largest psychiatric facility is not a hospital — but a prison or jail.
NAMIof 911 calls that dispatch police are for nonviolent issues.
Treatment Advocacy Centermore likely that a person with untreated mental illness is killed during a police encounter than other civilians.
Treatment Advocacy CenterThe Solution: A Right-Response System
True public safety relies on specialization — freeing police to focus on violent crime while health professionals handle public health. Non-violent emergencies are routed to a multidisciplinary team, around the clock:
EMTs
Manage immediate physical health needs on scene.
Mental Health & Substance Use Pros
Immediate clinical de-escalation and care assessment.
Peer Support & Community Health Workers
Shared lived experience to build trust and navigate systems.
Clinicians at 911 Dispatch
Accurate triage from the very first second of a call.
It's Not Just Compassionate — It's Cheaper
of voters support a first-response model led by mental health professionals — not police — for suicide or mental health crises.
Data for Progressdrop in low-level crime when root causes are solved through care instead of jail.
Vera Institute of JusticeWatch the Trailer
The Film, the Podcast, the Project
Beyond the documentary, Uncarcerated drives systemic change through a multi-platform campaign.
The Podcast
Formerly incarcerated people telling their own stories with dignity and unfiltered truth.
Latest episode →The Project
A community and resource hub for justice-impacted artists, advocates, and families returning home.
Find resources →Dig Deeper
Read the campaign brief and the 2026 zine — the full case, the data, and the stories behind the film.
Be Part of the Shift
From handcuffs to health — for us, by us. Join the community or support the mission.