Crisis Intervention Team (CIT)
The CIT program is an innovative first-responder model of police-based crisis intervention training to help people with mental health disorders and/or addictions access treatment rather than place them in the criminal justice system due to illness-related behaviors. It also promotes officer safety and the safety of the individual in crisis. The CIT model, also known as the "Memphis Model" has been spreading across the U.S. and abroad since it's development in 1988.
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CIT Training for Police & First Responders
CIT training is a 40-hour training that provides the foundation necessary to promote community solutions to assist individuals with a mental illness and/or addiction. The CIT Model reduces both stigma and the need for further interaction with the criminal justice system. Butler County typically offers two training classes a year - spring and fall. As of early 2022, 85 first responders have been trained by the Butler County CIT program.
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CIT Companion Trainings
Companion Training(s) are abbreviated training(s) specifically designed to bring the elements of CIT to other related roles within the justice system, to improve outcomes for those impacted by mental health or addiction disorders. Trainings currently offered or in-development are:
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Telecommunicators (Dispatchers)
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Corrections Officers
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Fire/EMT
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Probation Officers
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Court Personnel
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Mental health service providers
Dispatcher training is an abbreviated training specifically designed to meet the needs of emergency call center personnel. As the first first-responders, they often help determine what resources are needed in order to best respond to a call for service, and can help de-escalate a crisis starting with the initial call.
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Advanced Trainings
Training beyond the standard 40-hours CIT training on a variety of specialized topics. Generally 4-8 hours, these are open only to officers and individuals who have already completed the primary CIT training module.