What is CIT?
- The Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) is a collaboration of
local professionals (Mental Health Providers, Law
Enforcement, and family members) committed to enhancing
services to individuals experiencing a mental health crisis. CIT keeps individuals out of the criminal justice system
and gets them into appropriate treatment.
What is CIT Training?
- The Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) training is a
40-hour, 5-day curriculum approved by the Department of
Criminal Justice (DCJS).
- It trains officers to effectively deal with individuals
dealing with a mental health crisis.
- CIT is made up of classroom instruction and practical
exercises delivered by Mental Health Professionals, other
subject matter experts and CIT trained local Law Enforcement
Instructors.
Why should I participate in the CIT training?
- Law enforcement are the first responders to most
individuals dealing with a psychiatric crisis.
- CIT training provides officers with the tools to
professionally and humanely interact with persons with
mental illness.
How does my Agency benefit from CIT training?
- CIT Training equips participants with the skills
necessary to appropriately respond to psychiatric crises.
These situations may be high risk and may escalate into a
use of force incident. The CIT training provides
participants with skills that can minimize risk to
responding officers and the person in crisis and may prevent
the need to use force.
What will I gain from CIT training?
- Participants learn communication skills that can assist
in effectively interfacing with persons in psychiatric
crises. These skills can minimize the use of force in many
instances, thus protecting both the officers involved and
the person in crisis. Although the use of force may
ultimately be necessary in some situations, we know from
experience that the de-escalation skills learned in CIT
training often reduce the level of needed force. Also these
communication skills can be an invaluable tool to officers
in their regular duties.
CIT in the Community
- CIT reduces officer time spent in the emergency room
- CIT increases public safety by getting officers back on
the streets faster
- CIT reduces incarceration of individuals with mental
illness and gets individuals into treatment - saving tax
payer money!
