Basis Crisis Intervention Course

The Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) Program is the premier police-based, mental health crisis response initiative in the nation. CIT is an interdisciplinary, collaborative, community program that enhances law enforcement capability to respond to situations involving individuals with symptomatic behavioral health issues. CIT creates a coalition of local stakeholders, including law enforcement, emergency dispatchers, mental health treatment providers, consumers of mental health services and others (such as hospitals, emergency medical care facilities, non-law enforcement first responders, and family advocates) to oversee and guide the program.

The program provides 40 hours of advanced training for law enforcement first responders and other team members, enhances coordination between the local criminal justice and behavioral health systems and improves access to services for persons with behavioral health concerns who come into contact with law enforcement.

In the course of their regular duties, law enforcement and other first responders or corrections and jail personnel often interact with individuals who are exhibiting symptoms or behaviors which are inappropriate, or even potentially dangerous or violent.  These actions can be misinterpreted as criminal in nature. Additionally, law enforcement officers routinely interact with individuals with behavioral health disorders as a result of the statutory structure of Virginia’s civil commitment process. CIT programs increase the likelihood that such individuals will be more effectively identified, receive skilled intervention by a trained CIT responder to reduce the risk of danger or injury and be linked to services in lieu of arrest, whenever appropriate.