Success and Challenges of Crisis Intervention Training Used in Law Enforcement

Crisis intervention training
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Crisis intervention training
The Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) is a specialized program that provides training for law enforcement officers to handle individuals who are experiencing a mental health crisis. It was first introduced in Memphis, Tennessee in 1988 after a police shooting incident that involved a man who had a mental illness. The primary objective of the program is to equip officers with the necessary skills and knowledge to recognize and defuse potentially dangerous situations, minimize the use of force, and promote positive outcomes for those experiencing a mental health crisis. This paper will examine recent studies on the effectiveness and difficulties of CIT programs in the context of law enforcement.
The review of the literature indicates that CIT has been linked with a decrease in the use of force, an improvement in the attitudes of officers towards individuals experiencing a mental health crisis, and an increase in the accessibility of mental health services (Compton et al., 2020). Their research involved conducting a survey on law enforcement agencies throughout the United States. The authors discovered that agencies with CIT programs had lower rates of use of force, less harm to officers and individuals with mental illness, and higher referral rates to mental health services. However, the study also revealed that the success of CIT may depend on the availability of mental health resources in the community
A study conducted by (Shulman et al.,2021) discovered that CIT training was linked with a decrease in use-of-force incidents and arrests, as well as an improvement in officer knowledge and attitudes toward individuals with mental illness. The authors believe that CIT could be a useful approach to enhance police responses to mental health emergencies. However, they also stated that further research is necessary to determine the program's long-term effects.
The study conducted by (Schuman-Olivier et al.,2018) found that Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) training alone may not be enough to improve outcomes for people with mental illness. The authors reviewed the literature on CIT and discovered that although the program may enhance officer attitudes and knowledge, it might not result in decreased use of force or improved access to mental health services. The authors suggest that other interventions, such as mobile crisis teams and crisis stabilization centres, may be necessary to improve outcomes for individuals with mental illness.
Finally, in a study by (Stolzenberg et al., 2019), the authors found that CIT programs may face challenges in implementation and sustainability. The authors surveyed law enforcement agencies in Florida and found that while many agencies had implemented CIT, some faced challenges in funding, staffing, and training. The authors suggest that sustained funding and support from agency leadership may be necessary for the success of CIT programs.
In light of the research, my recommendation would be to implement CIT in our agency. The studies show that CIT can lead to a decrease in the use of force ...