This initiative provides training, technical assistance, and resources to support law enforcement agencies and their service provider and community partners in the use of evidence-informed and best practices in crisis response.
Project Overview
For law enforcement officers, responding to situations involving individuals with behavioral health conditions (including mental health and substance use) and developmental disabilities in a safe, effective manner can often present a significant challenge. The Academic Training Initiative brings together experts in law enforcement, behavioral health, disabilities, curriculum development, and evaluation to raise awareness in the law enforcement community about the nature and needs of persons with behavioral health conditions and intellectual and developmental disabilities to facilitate the use of evidence-informed and best practices in crisis response.
Methodology
To enhance police response to people with behavioral health conditions and developmental disabilities, the Academic Training Initiative:
- Developed, implemented, and assessed a national training on crisis response for law enforcement officers (Crisis Response and Intervention Training).
- Provides technical assistance to support communities in their development, enhancement, and implementation of crisis response programs.
- Develops best practice guides and new resources to inform police response to people with behavioral health conditions and developmental disabilities.
- Creates technology solutions to increase the accessibility of training and technical assistance and encourage evidence-informed practices for crisis response.
Results
The Academic Training Initiative team has collaborated with more than 20 law enforcement agencies across the United States, providing technical assistance and support in the development, enhancement, and implementation of crisis response training, partnerships, and programs.
In December 2022, the Academic Training Initiative published the Crisis Response and Intervention Training (CRIT). CRIT is a 40-hour training program designed to prepare police officers in their response to people experiencing crises related to behavioral health conditions and developmental disabilities. CRIT was designed as an off-the-shelf training curriculum that can be customized to local needs. The CRIT Toolkit includes all resources an agency needs to deliver the training, including CRIT coordinator resources, instructor guides, PowerPoint slides, participant materials, and supplemental resources.
Project Resources
Full project information, products, and recommended resources are available at: https://www.informedpoliceresponses.com/
Strategic Priority Area(s)
Service Area(s)
Topic Area(s)
Staff Contact(s)
Media Contact
Media inquiries should be directed to our Communications team at:
media@policinginstitute.org
202-833-1460
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More Information
Project Status: Active
Project Period: January 2020 -
Location(s): National
Strategic Priority Area(s)
Service Area(s)
Topic Area(s)
Staff Contact(s)
Media Contact
Media inquiries should be directed to our Communications team at:
media@policinginstitute.org
202-833-1460
Share