Booked for Safekeeping (1960)

Booked for Safekeeping (1960) is a riveting exploration of the challenges faced by the police in dealing with individuals grappling with developmental disabilities. Frequently, law enforcement is required to engage with such individuals in the absence of psychiatric personnel, necessitating a delicate balance of diplomacy, patience, and empathy. This film presents a series of dramatized scenes, each portraying a specific non-violent developmental disability. The objective is to depict how each situation can be deftly managed using varied yet straightforward methods. When confronted with potentially violent individuals, the police are urged to gather as much information as possible, while simultaneously dispersing bystanders to prevent additional agitation. An emphasis is placed on the critical first hours of custody, during which detailed information must be meticulously relayed to psychiatric personnel for accurate diagnosis and potential recovery. The film also addresses the pressing issue of suicidal individuals, highlighting the importance of constant vigilance until professional medical help can be provided. The narrative underlines the inherent risks in confronting unknown developmentally disabled individuals single-handedly, advocating for the constant availability of medical personnel to police departments. Booked for Safekeeping is both a training film and a passionate plea to society. It highlights the need for a unified approach in handling mental health emergencies, urging citizens to demand a 24-hour emergency response from medical personnel. This, it argues, would alleviate the burden on police and jails, preventing them from becoming makeshift mental institutions. Through its vivid simulations and earnest narrations, the film underlines the potential for peaceful resolutions to disturbances caused by mentally ill individuals, given the right attitude, training, backup, and patience.

Booked for Safekeeping is a documentary movie featuring James Daly and directed by George C. Stoney.

Booked for Safekeeping is currently streaming for free (ad-supported) on Kanopy.