Frequently Asked Questions about Crisis Intervention Team Training (CIT):
1. How much does it cost to train an officer in CIT?
Currently, the tuition for an agency to send an officer through the CIT Academy is $75.00 for academies within their region, and $150.00 for CIT Academies outside of their region. The law enforcement agency also pays for the officer’s time to be at the training.
2. What about long-term expenses?
Because CIT saves officer’s time and encourages an appropriate response to someone experiencing a mental health crisis, the program reduces many costs incurred by law enforcement agencies in responding to such a situation. Also, because the community mental health provider is a partner with law enforcement, it decreases the frequency of that individual’s encounters with the criminal justice system - another significant cost-reduction measure.
3. Don’t they receive mental health training at POST?
Yes, just as officers through POST receive training in building clearance, traffic accident investigations, drug recognition, interview techniques, and patrol tactics. However, the CIT Academy is designed as an advance course of study and specialized certification just as SWAT Certification, Advanced Accident Investigations, Utah Drug Academy, Interview and Interrogations Course, and Advanced Officer Course.
4. Does CIT training use up all of an officer’s training hours for a year?
The CIT Academy will satisfy the State of Utah POST 40-hour in-service training requirement. However, many officers receive more than the 40 hours mandated by the State.
5. Why not do the CIT Training at POST?
Officers at POST are being trained in so many topics, they are often overwhelmed with information. The importance of CIT can get lost in the volume of training. Also, officers report that the CIT Training is more helpful after they have some time on the job and can see how the training would benefit them.
6. How many officers are currently trained statewide?
About 11% of officers statewide are trained, but most of the trained officers are on the Wasatch Front. Also, not all of these officers participate in areas where the full program is implemented in partnership with mental health providers.
7. How many officers should receive this training?
Every law enforcement agency in the State should have officers who are trained and designated as the CIT Officers for their agency.
8. Does this training actually make a difference in an officer’s response?
Yes, a new study published in the November 2009 issue of Schizophrenia Bulletin reported that officers with CIT training were less likely to use force to engage persons living with mental illness. Secondly, CIT trained officers believed that nonphysical responses were more effective, and physical responses less effective when responding to a person with mental illness than non-CIT trained officers.
9. Why does CIT Training make a difference in an officer’s response?
CIT Training provides intensive training for law enforcement officers. In the 40-hour training, these officers spend time “touring” the mental health system and interacting with people living with mental illness. They hear from people living with mental illness, their families, and providers, to gain an understanding of these difficult illnesses. CIT officers understand how the symptoms may be manifested and affect behavior and they are aware of the perspective of the person with the illness.
10. How does CIT Training help families?
When a member of a family has a mental health crisis, the entire family is often in crisis and in need of help. CIT is profoundly beneficial to families who need assistance but are reluctant to call law enforcement, because their loved one has not broken any laws, but is ill. When families call and receive CIT assistance, they have the assurance that the responding CIT officers are trained to understand mental illness, and to understand the impact on the family.
11. How does CIT Training help law enforcement officers?
Our law enforcement officers have a very difficult, dangerous job. They deserve to have the best training and tools at their disposal to assist them in their work. Favoring verbal over physical de-escalation improves officer safety and can lead to fewer injuries.
12. How does CIT Training help a community?
Having CIT in a community encourages a proper response for a person experiencing a mental health crisis and the family, thus preserving the goodwill of the community. CIT also benefits taxpayers because it is proven to save communities money.
13. Where can further information be found regarding Utah’s CIT Program?
CIT Utah has a website with information regarding the Statewide Program, its history, participating agencies, upcoming academies, at www.CITUtah.com .