Find alternatives to calling the Savannah 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
Coming soon.
LGBTQ+
Coming soon.
Mental Health
- Georgia Crisis and Access Line (GCAL)
- Statewide mental health hotline. Can provide mobile crisis intervention when an individual is experiencing a behavioral health crisis, or is in a situation likely to turn into a behavioral health crisis if intervention does not occur. GCAL will assess each request individually to determine the most appropriate level of care. Mobile team may be accompanied by law enforcement if situation presents dangerous risk.
- 1 (800) 715-4225 (24/7)
- https://dbhdd.georgia.gov/mobile-crisis-services
- As of last confirmation, wait time for mobile team may be up to an hour due to limited resources.
- Peer Support Warmline
- Consumer-directed “warm line” for anyone struggling with mental health issues, 24 hours a day. Provides Georgians the opportunity to receive peer support over the phone 24 hours a day. Staffed by Certified Peer Specialists with lived experience recovering from behavioral health concerns, who have received special training to be able to listen with empathy, and who can provide assistance and resources to others.
- (888) 945-1414 (24/7)
- https://www.gmhcn.org/peer2peer-warm-line
Domestic Violence & Sexual Assault
- Georgia Coalition Against Domestic Violence
- Hotline connecting callers to routing system to Criminal Justice Coordinating Council (CJCC) certified shelters. Calls to the hotline are automatically connected to the caller’s nearest certified shelter based on the caller’s telephone number exchange. Calls may be made 24 hours a day from anywhere in the state as well as from outside of Georgia from any phone line. Programs accepting calls have access to language interpreter services. Free.
- 1 (800) 334-2836 (24/7)
- https://gcadv.org/
- Rape Crisis Center of the Coastal Empire
- Comprehensive agency serving Savannah and the surrounding area. Crisis intervention programs include SART (Sexual Assault Response Team) and SANE (Sexual Assault Nurse Examiners), which makes the reporting process much more responsive to the victim. Confidential, no ID requirement.
- (912) 233-7273 (24/7)
- https://www.rccsav.org
- Safe Shelter
- Provides 24/7 support, information, safety planning, and referrals for victims of domestic violence or abuse. Calls are always confidential and they will never call you back. Can connect callers with temporary housing, legal advocacy and aftercare checkups. Emergency Safe Shelter for women and children, separate shelter for men, both in undisclosed locations. No ID requirement. Ellas hablan español.
- (912) 629-8888 (24/7)
- http://safeshelter.org/programs-services/
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.
Coming soon.
Elders
Coming soon.
Crime
Coming soon.
Substances
Coming soon.
Please consider using these alternatives to calling the Savannah 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.