Find alternatives to calling the Newark Police Department.
Typically, people call the police because they are experiencing or perceive an emergency and need immediate assistance. In order to provide the most effective alternatives to calling the police or 911, unless otherwise indicated, the resources included here are limited to those that offer immediate assistance through emergency or crisis services.
These resources may be obligated to call police in the case of an immediate risk of harm to the caller or another, child abuse, or abuse of a vulnerable adult. Where we know or suspect that a resource may work in cooperation with law enforcement or involve them beyond what is required by law, we acknowledge that in the listing.
These resources are not intended to cover all situations, only to provide the services described. If you are in danger of immediate harm and feel safe doing so, call 911.
Housing
- Circle of Life
- Shelter providing transitional housing and support services, including rehabilitation and transition services related to mental health or addiction. Also serves as warming center during the winter. Not wheelchair accessible.
- 55 Reeves Pl, Newark, NJ 07108
- (862) 763-4859
- Covenant House NJ
- Organization that operates Residential Crisis Centers for youth, open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, and providing food, showers, shelter, and assistance building a safety plan. On-site staff consists of service managers, youth advisors, behavioral health specialists, lawyers, and medical professionals. Also provides health and wellness, and ongoing services. Walk-ins welcome.
- 330 Washington Street, Newark, NJ 07102
- (973) 621-8705 (24/7)
- Text: (844) 912-1291
- https://covenanthousenj.org/
- Newark Emergency Services for Families
- Provides support to individuals and families through programming in six areas: emergency services, workforce development, housing, prisoner re-entry, health, and family development. Case management, community referrals, and direct services available. In-person services suspended due to COVID.
- 982 Broad Street Newark, NJ 07102
- (973) 639-2100
- https://www.nesfnj.org/
LGBTQ+
- RAIN Foundation
- Provides emergency shelter services to address the emergent need of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) youth experiencing crisis leading to homelessness. Located in East Orange.
- (973) 675-6780
- http://essexlgbthousing.org/
Mental Health
- Beth Israel Hotline
- State-designated emergency screening services through hospital Emergency Room. By phone, can offer crisis intervention, stabilization and treatment. Phone assistance free of charge. Can also provide mobile outreach to all area residents experiencing acute psychiatric distress and traumatic incident debriefing – mobile team will include law enforcement.
- (973) 926-7444 or (866) 904-4474 (24/7)
- https://www.rwjbh.org/
- NJ Hopeline
- 24/7 crisis hotline staffed by mental health counselors, available to all New Jersey residents. Focused on suicide prevention, provides emotional support and connections to other social services.
- 1 (855) 654-6735 (24/7)
- http://www.njhopeline.com/
- University Hospital Behavioral Health
- 24-hour emergency and crisis psychiatric evaluation and treatment, both on and off-site, for adults and children. 24/7 hotline and on-site crisis intervention, mobile assessment. Crisis intervention team will call CIT trained police to meet them at location pursuant to state law.
- 183 South Orange Avenue, Newark, NJ 07103
- (973) 623-2323 (24/7, Hotline)
- (973) 972-0480 (Mobile screening-adults)
- (973) 972-7354 (Mobile screening – kids)
- https://ubhc.rutgers.edu/clinical/emergency-/-acute/acute-and-emergency-services.xml
Domestic Violence & Sexual Assault
- Essex County Family Justice Center
- Services related to domestic violence, including crisis intervention, safety planning, emergency shelter, and advocacy. Accepts clients on a walk-in basis.
- Monday through Friday, 8:30am to 4:30pm
- 60 Nelson Place, 2nd Floor, Newark, NJ 07102
- (973) 230-7229
- https://www.essexcountyfjc.org/
- Women Rising, Inc.
- 24/7 Helpline for victims of domestic violence, connecting callers to emergency shelter counseling, and other services. Also hosts support groups, permanent supportive housing, and youth and family programs.
- 270 Fairmount Ave., Jersey City, NJ 07306
- (201) 333-5700 (24/7)
- https://www.womenrising.org/
Youth
Please note, people answering these calls may be mandatory reporters, and required to make a report to CPS or law enforcement in certain situations. Learn about local mandatory reporter laws here.
- 2nd Floor Youth Helpline
- A confidential and anonymous helpline for New Jersey’s youth and young adults ages 10 – 24. Chatboard on website for teens to talk about problems they are experiencing. Hotline will call police if imminent risk of harm or indications of child abuse.
- 1 (888) 222-2228 (24/7, Call or text)
- TTY: (732) 264-1703
- https://www.2ndfloor.org/
- Covenant House NJ
- Organization that operates Residential Crisis Centers for youth, open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, and providing food, showers, shelter, and assistance building a safety plan. On-site staff consists of service managers, youth advisors, behavioral health specialists, lawyers, and medical professionals. Also provides health and wellness, and ongoing services. Walk-ins welcome.
- 330 Washington Street, Newark, NJ 07102
- (973) 621-8705 (24/7)
- Text: (844) 912-1291
- https://covenanthousenj.org/
- RAIN Foundation
- Provides emergency shelter services to address the emergent need of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) youth experiencing crisis leading to homelessness. Located in East Orange.
- (973) 675-6780
- http://essexlgbthousing.org/
Elders
Coming soon.
Crime
- Newark Community Street Team
- Community-based crime and violence intervention programming. Trained intervention team can engage in high-risk intervention, both mediating on-going disputes that may result in violence and preventing retaliation, and connects those engaged in violence to supportive counseling, crisis intervention assessment and mediation, referrals and resource information in order to restore peace and avoid arrest and incarceration. Provides support to crime survivors who are overlooked by traditional victim services agencies, including mental health care, financial and housing assistance.
- Office: 9 a.m. – 5 p.m; however, calls will be routed to individual for response 24/7
- (973) 399-1003
- https://www.newarkcommunitystreetteam.org/
Substance Abuse
- New Jersey Connect for Recovery
- A free, confidential call line focused on helping people managing addiction, as well as family members and friends coping with a loved one’s substance use disorder. Provides emotional support, education, ongoing family and peer guidance and access to treatment options.
- 8 a.m. – 10 p.m. Mon. – Fri.; 10 a.m. – 8 p.m. Weekends
- (855) 652-3737
- TTY: (877) 294-4356
- https://www.njconnectforrecovery.org/
Please consider using these alternatives to calling the Newark Police Department or 911 when faced with a situation that calls for de-escalation and/or intervention.
We have tried to indicate where police or law enforcement may work with the alternative resources listed; please let us know if you have any concerns about these resources.
Reimagine public safety. Don’t call the police.