Incorporating Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) knowledge and skills into the daily work of police officers: a focus group study.

This qualitative focus group study was conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) training for police officers. Thematic analysis of transcripts of focus group discussions revealed that officers report increased knowledge of mental illnesses (which manifests as an improved ability to recognize and respond, reduced stereotyping/stigmatization, greater empathy toward consumers and their caregivers, more patience when dealing with consumers, and fewer arrests/more redirection toward treatment), as well as practical application of learned skills (evidenced by an ability to put individuals with mental illnesses at ease, reduced unpredictability of the crisis situation, and reduced risk of injury). Results highlight the potential for collaboration between law enforcement (and other public safety/criminal justice professions) and the mental health professions in the expanding CIT collaborative model.

A comprehensive review of extant research on Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) programs.

The Memphis model of the Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) program has established itself as a prototype of law enforcement-mental health collaboration for a large number of municipalities across the country, and several states are implementing statewide training programs that seek to train approximately 20 percent of their police forces. Given the enthusiasm of advocates, law enforcement/public safety personnel, and mental health professionals for the CIT program, and in light of the increasing pace of implementation of this complex collaboration in a multitude of localities across the country, we seek in this review to provide a systematic summary of the very limited available research that has been conducted on CIT to date and to comment on future avenues for research.

Understanding recreational ecstasy use in the United States: a qualitative inquiry.

Background: Ecstasy use has increasingly become popular among young adults, many of whom view it as a safe drug with no or limited negative social and health consequences. In this paper, we explore the perceptions of ecstasy users about its recreational use as well as regarding the normalisation of use.

Methods: The study participants were recruited using targeted and theoretical sampling.

Preliminary evidence of effects of crisis intervention team training on self-efficacy and social distance.

Objective: The Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) program is a collaborative model involving mental health professionals and law enforcement officers that is being implemented in a multitude of localities across the country. This study had two main objectives: (1) To assess perceptions of self-efficacy and desired social distance of control officers and officers entering CIT training with regard to individuals with psychiatric syndromes (depression and schizophrenia) and individuals with substance dependence (alcohol and cocaine), and (2) To examine the effects, if any, of CIT training on self-efficacy and social distance.

Methods: Between March and July 2006, a survey was administered to 34 control police officers, 58 officers just before a 40-h CIT training program, and 40 of these officers upon completion of the training.