Positive Approaches Journal, Volume 13, Issue 3

Lawrence  | 28-32




Positive Approaches Journal - Volume 2 Title

Volume 13 ► Issue 3 ► December 2024


Pennsylvania Crisis Intervention Teams: Enhancing Police Responses to Mental Health Crises

Bobbi Lawrence, LSW


In recent years, mental health crises have increasingly become a significant challenge for law enforcement agencies across the United States. Pennsylvania is no exception. To address these challenges, many police departments in Pennsylvania have implemented Crisis Intervention Teams (CITs). These teams are designed to improve the way law enforcement officers respond to individuals experiencing mental health crises, emphasizing de-escalation, diversion from the criminal justice system, and increased collaboration with mental health professionals. The CIT model represents a critical shift toward more humane and effective responses to situations that have traditionally fallen solely within the purview of law enforcement. 

The CIT model was first developed in Memphis, Tennessee, in 1988, but has since been adopted by police departments nationwide. In Pennsylvania, the CIT program began gaining traction in the early 2000s in response to growing concerns about the intersection of mental illness and the criminal justice system. Pennsylvania’s CIT programs aim to address the inadequacies of traditional law enforcement responses to mental health crises, where individuals with mental illnesses were often arrested and jailed, rather than receiving appropriate care.

A key feature of CITs is the specialized training provided to police officers. In Pennsylvania, CIT officers undergo a 40-hour training program that includes instruction on mental health diagnoses, de-escalation techniques, and strategies for dealing with individuals in crisis. Officers also participate in role-playing exercises and hear directly from individuals with lived experience of mental illness. This training equips officers with the skills to recognize when someone is in crisis and how to intervene safely and effectively, reducing the likelihood of violent confrontations. 

One of the central goals of CITs in Pennsylvania is to divert individuals with mental health issues away from the criminal justice system and toward treatment. CIT officers are trained to identify situations where mental illness is a significant factor and to connect individuals with the appropriate resources, such as mobile crisis units, mental health clinics, or hospitals. In some cases, CIT officers may even be able to resolve a crisis without making an arrest through de-escalation or by facilitating voluntary treatment.

The impact of CITs on police departments and communities in Pennsylvania has been profound. Studies show that CIT-trained officers are less likely to use force in situations involving mental health crises. For example, a 2020 study of CIT programs in Pennsylvania found that departments with CIT officers reported fewer injuries to both officers and civilians during crisis incidents. Additionally, there was a notable reduction in arrests of individuals with mental illnesses, as officers were more likely to refer them to mental health services rather than jail.

Beyond immediate crisis intervention, CITs foster stronger relationships between police departments and mental health agencies. This collaboration ensures that officers have access to a network of professionals who can assist with crisis situations. Some departments in Pennsylvania have even partnered with mental health professionals who accompany officers on calls, further improving outcomes for individuals in crisis.

While CIT programs have shown promise in Pennsylvania, there are still challenges to address. One significant issue is the uneven implementation of CIT programs across the state. In rural areas, where resources are limited, it can be difficult to provide the same level of CIT training and support that is available in larger cities. Additionally, mental health services in these areas may be sparse, limiting the ability of CIT officers to refer individuals to appropriate care.

There is also the broader challenge of police culture. While many officers embrace the CIT model, there are still those who view mental health crises as secondary to the primary law enforcement mission of crime control. Changing this mindset will require ongoing training, leadership support, and a shift in departmental priorities to focus more on public health and safety, rather than punishment.

In response to these challenges, Pennsylvania continues to expand its CIT programs and increase collaboration between police departments, mental health professionals, and community organizations. Some departments are exploring the possibility of co-responder models, where mental health professionals and police respond to crisis situations together, further reducing the likelihood of negative outcomes.

In conclusion, I personally have had the honor of being involved with the Pennsylvania CIT programs for the past 17 years and have witnessed firsthand the effectiveness of this model. One example would be from the city of Johnstown, where CIT officers routinely make visits to the local partial programs and Drop-In Centers. During these visits, officers can build connections with folks when they are doing well. These bonds have helped tremendously when the individual is having a mental health crisis, which warrants police involvement. It is exciting to know that Pennsylvania has taken an active stance on investing efforts to assist people with interventions over arrests, which has been shown to be effective for those struggling with a mental health crisis.




References 

1.     CIT International. Memphis Model. 2012 Retrieved from CIT: Community Partnerships Making a Difference.

2.     Specialized Police Response in Pennsylvania: Moving Toward Statewide Implementation. Pennsylvania Mental Health and Justice Center of Excellence. Specialized Police Response in Pennsylvania: Moving Toward Statewide Implementation.

3.     Deane MW, Steadman HJ, Borum R, Veysey B, Morrissey J. Emerging partnerships between mental health and law enforcement. Psychiatric Services. 1999;50(1):99–101. doi: 10.1176/ps.50.1.99. [Psychiatry Online: Emerging Partnerships Between Mental Health and Law Enforcement] [PubMed: Emerging Partnerships Between Mental Health and Law Enforcement] [Google Scholar: PubMed: Emerging Partnerships Between Mental Health and Law Enforcement].

4.     NAMI (2020)—Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) Programs, Crisis Intervention Team Programs.

5.     Compton MT, Broussard B, Munetz M, Oliva JR, Watson AC. The Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) Model of collaboration between law enforcement and mental health. Hauppauge, NY: Nova Science Publishers, Inc; 2011.

6.     Northeastern Pennsylvania Crisis Intervention Team. CIT Improve Interactions Between Law Enforcement & Persons with Mental Illness.

7.      Improving Crisis Response and Crisis Intervention Team Programs in Pennsylvania.





Biographies

Bobbi Lawrence, LSW, is the Executive Director of Pennsylvania’s Sexual Responsibility and Treatment Program at Torrance State Hospital. She has worked at the State Hospital for almost 20 years. She received her BS in HDFS at Penn State University and her MSW at the University of Pittsburgh. She has been providing training for the PA Crisis Intervention Teams (CIT) for the past 17 years to over ten counties and is one of the original members of the training team. She has also provided mental health training to the PA State Police SERT Negotiators, local police departments, and multiple courts and probation offices throughout Pennsylvania. She is an adjunct professor in the School of Social Work at the University of Pittsburgh and a Therapist for Switch Mental Health Services in Johnstown. In her free time she enjoys baking and participates in a variety of community organizations in her hometown of Portage. She is most proud of her two amazing sons who both serve in the United States Armed Forces. 


 

Contact Information

Bobbi Lawrence, LSW | Executive Director

Department of Human Services | Torrance State Hospital

PA Sexual Responsibility and Treatment Program

Email: rolawrence@pa.gov