C-66 CRISIS INTERVENTION TEAM Flashcards
PURPOSE C-66 Crisis intervention Team
1- The purpose of this General Order is to set forth departmental policy and procedures for the Crisis Intervention Team.
Policy
POLICY C-66 CIT
2- To maximize safety for officers, mental health consumers and the public, it is the policy of the Berkeley Police Department to utilize, whenever possible, Crisis Intervention Team Officers for specified mental health crises.
3- The Department’s Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) is composed of specially trained officers whose function is to respond to incidents which involve a mental health crisis, where the officer’s specialized skills may be used to resolve such an incident and to provide further assistance, beyond the actual call, for the individual involved.
4- The CIT Program has four primary objectives:
a) To attempt to de-escalate crisis situations.
b) To attempt to reduce the necessity for the use of force.
c) To attempt to reduce recidivism among mentally ill criminal offenders.
d) In collaboration with the community mental health system, consumer advocacy groups and the courts, to continuously work toward meeting these goals.
CIT policy
DEFINITIONS C-66 CIT
5- Crisis Intervention Team (CIT):
A specialized team operating within the Operations Division designated to respond to calls involving persons experiencing a mental health crisis.
6- Crisis Intervention Team Member:
A member of the department who has completed 38 hours of POST certified CIT training (i.e., crisis de-escalation, signs and symptoms of mental illness, local resources for persons in a mental health crisis) and achieved CIT certification. Participation as a team member is voluntary, and team members have received specialized and specific training in order to be a resource to other officers.
7- CIT Council:
A community collaborative comprised of law enforcement personnel, court officials and mental health advocates, responsible for continuously providing feedback on and improving/sustaining the Crisis Intervention Team. The Council also reviews individual cases and formulates recommendations.
8- Mental Health Consumer:
A description commonly used by the mental health community when referring to an individual diagnosed with a mental illness or who is involved in a mental health crisis and utilizes mental health services.
9- Crisis Intervention Team Coordinator: A CIT trained Sergeant or Officer responsible for the development and maintenance of the CIT program.
CIT Definitions
PROCEDURES
General
10- Whenever possible, CIT officers shall respond to specified calls for service involving individuals experiencing mental health crises. The use of CIT trained personnel is not limited to situations or calls involving the mentally ill, but extends to any circumstance wherein an individual is in need of crisis intervention due to a psychological/emotional crisis and/or when the individual is a danger to himself/herself, others or is gravely disabled.
11- CIT Officer Selection
The position of CIT Officer is an ancillary duty assignment. Officers interested in becoming a member of the Berkeley Police Department CIT will complete a standard Special Assignment Application Form.
CIT Officer Identification
12- CIT Officers may be identified by a “CIT” lapel pin on their uniforms, affixed in silver letters (gold for CIT trained commanders), affixed over the name plate on the right shirt pocket. The pin acts as an identifier to other officers, mental health consumers/family members and members of the general public that the officer has completed CIT training.
CIT
Automatic Dispatch of CIT Personnel
13- The Communication Center shall automatically dispatch the closest available CIT Officer(s) to the following incidents:
- Calls involving actively suicidal subjects. - Calls normally dispatched as “violent 5150.” - Incidents involving suspected mentally ill subjects with a weapon. - Hostage situations or barricaded subjects, until relieved or otherwise directed by the Barricaded Subject/Hostage Negotiation Team (BSHNT).
14- The Communication Center shall advise if there are no available CIT Officers to respond.
Dispatch CIT
Dispatch/Patrol Officer Unit Requests
15- In situations other than those specified under the guidelines established for automatic dispatch protocol, call takers, dispatchers and patrol officers can prompt, and/or request the response of CIT personnel.
Situations may include:
a) Calls for service when it becomes known that a subject may benefit from CIT intervention.
b) A family disturbance call when it is determined that an individual suffers from a mental illness.
c) On-scene patrol officers who determine a need and requests CIT personnel to respond.
Requesting CIT
Berkeley Mental Health Mobile Crisis Team (MCT) Coordination
16- The MCT is a mobile emergency mental health service staffed by licensed mental health professionals and interns.
The MCT offers crisis intervention, counseling follow-up and consultation services work collaboratively with police personnel, including CIT officers, acting as professional adjuncts. MCT clinicians may be used by CIT officers as consultants by assisting with crisis intervention.
The MCT may also assist by helping to generate appropriate referrals and disposition recommendations for CIT officers.
Mobile crisis team
Barricaded Subject Hostage Negotiation (BSHNT) Coordination
17- If available, on duty CIT personnel shall respond to any incident involving a barricaded subject or hostage taker.
If there are no BSHNT Tactical or Negotiator Element personnel on scene, the CIT officer may act as the primary negotiator until relieved by BSHNT personnel.
Barricaded Subject Hostage Negotiation (BSHNT) Coordination
CIT Personnel: On-Scene Responsibilities
18- On-scene CIT personnel are responsible for the following:
a) Determining if the call for service warrants a CIT response.
b) W&I5150evaluations.
c) In the event an Emergency Psychiatric Detention is warranted, the CIT Officer shall prepare the required documentation and make any appropriate referrals.
d) If also functioning as the primary patrol unit, the CIT Officer shall complete the appropriate offense report and recover any of the property or evidence for safe keeping, if applicable.
CIT Personnel: On-Scene Responsibilities
