A family calls 911 seeking medical help for their son experiencing a mental health crisis. They ask for an ambulance. Police arrive instead. Sixteen seconds after entering the home, NYPD officers shoot 23-year-old Jabez Chakraborty four times.

In the debut episode of The Arraignment Room: Law and Disorder, former public defenders Asha Smith and John Vang examine the case that has become a flashpoint in New York City's debate over mental health response, policing, and public safety.

Joined by Eric Trujillo, LMSW, of Bellevue Hospital's Street Health Outreach and Wellness (SHOW) Program, and Rigodis Appling, Staff Attorney with the Legal Aid Society's Special Litigation Unit, we examine what happened to Jabez Chakraborty, why police remain the default response to mental health emergencies, and whether New York City is prepared to embrace a different model of public safety.

Hosts: Asha Smith & John Vang Guests: Eric Trujillo, LMSW; Rigodis Appling, Legal Aid Society

The Arraignment Room: Law and Disorder (A Criminal Justice Podcast) explores the cases, policies, and stories behind America's criminal legal system.