NCJ Number
193656
Journal
FBI Law Enforcement Bulletin Volume: 71 Issue: 2 Dated: February 2002 Pages: 11-14
Date Published
February 2002
Length
4 pages
Annotation
This article examines the role of law enforcement agencies in dealing with people in a state of mental and emotional distress.
Abstract
The Monterey County Health Department serves approximately 4,000 residents with mental illness. All of the county agencies have limited resources to deal with a mental illness crisis situation. The Monterey County Police Chief's Association decided to combine their resources and create a standardized training program to develop a better response capability to mental health crisis situations. The critical incident training (CIT) program, developed by the San Jose, California, Police Department, was adapted to meet the specific conditions of all jurisdictions in Monterey County. A 40-hour intensive training program that included role-playing, interactive participation of people with mental illness (consumers), identification of various symptoms and types of medications used by consumers, crisis negotiation tactics, panel discussions, visits to interim-type housing facilities, suicide and crisis intervention training, and a review of all countywide protocols and incident response procedures. The training focuses on the most useful tool available to officers--their communication skills--and culminates with tests and feedback evaluations. Three separate crisis situations in Monterey County involving individuals with mental illness occurred the weekend after the first graduation of the critical incident training academy; all were resolved without the use of force. Since then, the county has noted numerous calls resulting in successful, nonviolent results. The training also helped officers defuse other emotionally stressful situations that may not have been related to mental health issues, such as domestic disputes. Having protocols, agreements, mutual aid assistance, or the assistance of a psychiatrist available still may not resolve a situation peacefully in some instances. But, with extensive training and interactive working arrangements, the arriving officers have more tools for achieving a peaceful resolution to a mental health crisis situation. 2 endnotes