Policing Mental Illness: CIT and Service (Un) Availability

• In Event: Police and People with Mental Illness

Abstract

The Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) model of police response to mental health (MH) crisis is the most widely disseminated pre-booking jail diversion model in the United States. While there is emerging evidence of its effectiveness for increasing linkage to MH services and reducing use of force, there is a need for a deeper understanding of the context of these encounters and the influence of MH service access points/availability on officers’ abilities to provide effective interventions. Investigators conducted ride along observations with CIT trained and non-CIT officers in Chicago police districts. During the ride along observations, researchers talked to officers about their experiences responding to MH related encounters and if MH calls occurred, they were observed and the officer debriefed. Many of the observed and described encounters occurred in the “gray zone” of policing, meaning the situations called for neither arrest or immediate involuntary psychiatric hospitalization. Nonetheless officers expressed frustration with recent reductions in MH resources, repeat contacts with individuals inadequately served by the MH system, and individuals who would benefit from but are unwilling to engage in services. Differences between CIT and nonCIT officer perspectives and approaches will be discussed.

Authors

• Amy C. Watson, University of Illinois at Chicago

• Jennifer Wood, Temple University

• Melissa Schaefer Morabito, University of Massachusetts, Lowell

• Anjali Fulambarker, University of Illinois at Chicago