Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) Basic

This 5-day course will provide officers with specialized training on dealing with individuals in the community who have a mental illness or other behavioral disability.  Officers will be trained as resource specialists who can provide immediate response to calls involving a mental health crisis.  The program will be conducted by a diverse group of law enforcement and behavioral health professionals — including active CIT officers from three Illinois jurisdictions.  Topics include mental illness signs and symptoms, child and adolescent disorders, intervention strategies, and the impact of substance abuse.  Autism, intellectual disabilities, and community resources will also be addressed. 

An essential part of the CIT program is scenario-based skills training.  Officers will be challenged with realistic scenarios portrayed by professional actors from Chicago and St. Louis.  Scenarios may include a suicide intervention, de-escalating a violent situation, or responding to a call involving an individual experiencing paranoia.  All scenarios will be facilitated, evaluated, and debriefed by experienced CIT officers.

This course is funded by the Illinois Law Enforcement Training and Standards Board.  State certificates and uniform pins will be awarded to students who complete the training.  Enrollment is open to all agencies, regardless of size.