Crisis Intervention Team Training: Overview

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Crisis Intervention TeamTraining Overview

• Sandra S. Szczygiel, MS, LPCC S
• Asst. Director of Programs
• March 2009

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History of CIT

•   
•   The Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) law
  enforcement training model was established in
  Memphis, Tennessee in 1987 following the fatal
  shooting of Joseph Dewayne Robinson during a
  police response to a crisis situation. Mr.
  Robinson, who was 27 years old, had a history of
  a mental health disorder and substance abuse. 
•  

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As a result of public outcry for alternative ways
of intervening when responding to situations
involving persons with mental illness, the
Memphis Police Department joined in partnership
with the Memphis Chapter of the Alliance for the
Mentally Ill, mental health providers and two
local universities.  These groups worked together
to develop and organize a specialized training
and support model for law enforcement to ensure a
safe and compassionate response to mental health.
crises. 
Southeast MHC, Inc.
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Since then, hundreds of police departments in the
United States and across the world have
participated in training their officers in the
Crisis Intervention Team Model. 
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In 2000, the Akron Police Department became the
first in Ohio to start a CIT program. There are
now over 3,000 CIT Officers in Ohio.
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In 2006, the first CIT Training took place for
the region of Clark, Greene and Madison Counties.
Annual regional trainings were held in 2007 and
2008.
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Pictures from 2007 CIT Training
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Pictures from 2008 CIT Training
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Why C.I.T.?

• Not because
• The mental health system wants to make area
  police departments into mental health agencies
  and turn officers into psychiatrists.
• Problems with area police department and
  individuals with severe and persistent mental
  illness.
• The mental health system is soft on crime and
  wants to excuse people for criminal behavior.

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Why C.I.T.?

• The Law Enforcement Perspective
• The Mental Health System Perspective

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Core Outcomes of CIT

• Lower incidents of injury to officers and others.

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Core Outcomes of CIT

• Fewer repeat calls for service of patrol officers
  with mental health consumers.

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Core Outcomes of CIT

• Enhanced working relationship of patrol officers
  with county crisis workers.

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Core Outcomes of CIT

• Increased involvement of family and friends of
  the consumer as a crisis response alternative.

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Core Outcomes of CIT
Increased knowledge of community resources
available to the consumer and family members
which may assist in recovery.
Vernon Drop-In Center
McKinley Hall
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Elderly United CARE
Oesterlen
Project Woman
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Mental Health Services for Madison County
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TCN Behavioral Health Services
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Family Violence Prevention Center of Greene
County
Greene County Educational Service Center
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Integrated Youth Services
Womens Recovery Center
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CIT Fact Sheet
Courtesy of the Crisis Intervention Network
6722 N. Quartzite Cyn. Tucson, AZ 85718 Ph
520-299-2422

• 1. Killings of consumers by police officers are
  greatly reduced.
• Memphis started CIT in 1988 and has had only 4
  killings by police to date. They were
  experiencing 5-6 killings per year before
  starting the CIT program. All of the incidents
  involved Non CIT trained officers.
• Portland, Oregon has had CIT since 1991 and they
  have only one death and that was a heart attack
  of the consumer during a crisis situation.
• Waterloo IA has had CIT since 1991 and they have
  experienced no deaths.
• San Jose, California has had CIT since 1997 and
  they have experienced no deaths.
• Other cities with CIT programs report similar
  decreases in police officer caused deaths during
  crisis situations.

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3. Mentally ill prisoners in jail dropped from 15
percent to 3 percent, the national average is 15
to 20 percent Memphis averages three
percent. 4. This program reduces arrests, 90,
from 20 arrests per 100 calls without CIT, to 2
arrests per 100 calls with CIT. Police officers
have the option of taking consumers to the
medical center in lieu of arrest (Memphis).
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5. Police officer injuries are down 85, from 1
in 400 before CIT to 3 in 7000 after starting CIT
(Memphis). 6. SWAT callouts drop 55 percent,
from .042 per 100 calls to .019 per 1000 calls
(Memphis). 7. 40 percent decrease in injuries to
consumers (Memphis).
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8. Families of consumers, in cities where CIT has
been established are no longer afraid to call
police. They seek out police in
Crisis situations. 9. Emergency room recidivism
rate drops to less than 20 percent after CIT
(Memphis). 10. Involuntary commitment decreases
from over 40 percent to 25 percent. One study
showed a 100 drop in E.R. admissions by police
(Memphis).
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11. In cities where CIT has been established the
consumers seek out CIT officers for help. 12.
All CIT officers are issued nonlethal weapons and
trained to use them (Memphis). 13. When CIT
officers respond to a crisis scene they are the
officers in charge of that scene. They are held
accountable and responsible for the outcome.
This does not negate the supervisor chain of
command it enhances clarity and responsibility
and provides order during a crisis assessment in
defining an appropriate response/ disposition.
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14. The design and delivery of CIT training is
done pro bono. All presenters donate their time
and talent.
15. All CIT officers are volunteers. They go
through a thorough screening process before being
accepted into the program.
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16. CIT officers respond to regular police calls
and are dispatched to all crisis calls.
17. Police officers are generally back on patrol
from the medical center in 15 minutes. They are
no longer required to spend anywhere from 4 to 8
hours at the E.R.
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18. CIT has greatly reduced civil liabilities for
police departments and has increased morale of
the police officers. 19. Police officers have
the option of taking consumers to the medical
center in lieu of arrest.
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Goals for C.I.T.

• Increase officer, client and overall community
  safety.
• Better prepare officers to handle crises
  involving persons with mental illness.
• Make mental health system more understandable to
  the police.
• Make mental health system maximally responsive to
  law enforcement.

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Goals for C.I.T.

• Appropriately refer individuals in need to the
  mental health treatment system.
• Improve access to the public mental health system
  to people in need.
• Reduce the incarceration rate of mentally ill
  people in need of treatment.
• Strengthen our communities.

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You cant just say, we need to educate our
officers about mental illness. Weve been doing
that for years. But mere education about mental
illness is not enough to combat the hurtful and
tragic effects of stigma. So you have to have a
change of heart Major Sam Cochran, Memphis
Police Department