PRODUCTS
The following products were developed through the Academic Training Initiative and are designed to support law enforcement agencies and communities in the development, implementation, and evaluation of crisis response programs.
Newly Released Resources
Expanded CRIT Curriculum Content
The Academic Training Initiative has recently released expanded content for the CRIT curriculum. This expanded content includes modules on Mental Illnesses in Children and Adolescents, Legal and Policy Topics, and Personality Disorders. This new material aims to provide comprehensive insights into these critical areas, enhancing the depth and breadth of the CRIT curriculum.
Available Expanded Content
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Mental Illnesses in Children and Adolescents
Legal and Policy Topics, Part 1
Legal and Policy Topics, Parts 2 and 3
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Corresponding PowerPoints
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Mental Illnesses in Children and Adolescents PPT
Legal and Policy Topics, Part 1 PPT
Legal and Policy Topics, Parts 2 and 3 PPT
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Police Leader's Guide on Crisis Response Models
CRIT Toolkit Videos
This video introduces and outlines the Crisis Response and Intervention Training (CRIT) curriculum, which aims to enhance the skills and knowledge of officers in responding to individuals in crisis, particularly those with mental health conditions, substance use disorders, and intellectual and developmental disabilities.
This video serves as an informative overview of the CRIT curriculum, its development, goals, and implementation strategies, aimed at improving law enforcement responses to crises involving individuals with behavioral health conditions and intellectual and developmental disabilities.
This video serves to guide effective implementation of the CRIT program through picking the right instructors, covering all the important topics, and working with the community. The instructors provide insights for police agencies looking to develop or enhance existing training infrastructure concerning crisis response.
This video provides guidance on organizing the Family and Peer Perspectives Panel for Crisis Response and Intervention Training (CRIT). It emphasizes the importance of collaborating with local organizations and advocacy groups to engage peers and family members in sharing their experiences with law enforcement, aiming to foster understanding and empathy among officers.
This video provides guidance on planning and implementing role-play scenarios for Crisis Response and Intervention Training (CRIT). It emphasizes the importance of selecting and preparing role players, including professional actors and individuals with lived experience, to ensure realistic and effective training in communication and de-escalation skills.
Webinars & Presentations
Written Resources
Examining Crisis Response: Survey Results from the Largest Municipal Police Agencies in the United States
From August to November 2021, the University of Cincinnati Center for Police Research and Policy surveyed the 70 largest U.S. municipal law enforcement agencies. Of these 70 agencies, 54 (77%) completed a survey on crisis response. The survey measures the prevalence and nature of police training, partnerships, and programs to support crisis response, including innovative practices in responses to people with behavioral health conditions (including mental health and substance use) and intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). This fact sheet presents a snapshot of the overall survey findings.
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Best Practice Guide
Responses to People with Behavioral Health Conditions and Developmental Disabilities: A Review of Research on First Responder Models
The Best Practice Guide reviews available research on the delivery and impact of police, behavioral health (BH), disability, and community responses to BH and intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD)-related crisis incidents. The chapters of this guide present information on existing response models, identify evidence-informed best practices, and outline key lessons for the development and delivery of crisis response programs designed after these models.
Available Chapters
Crisis Intervention Teams (CIT)
Law Enforcement-Based Case Management Services
Law Enforcement Assisted Diversion (LEAD)
Bureau of Justice Assistance Style Guide
This style guide contains guidelines for content related to criminal justice and behavioral health and intellectual and developmental disabilities, including concepts, terminology, and definitions.
Resources on Developmental Disabilities
This two-page resource describes mental health conditions and developmental disabilities, common behaviors and characteristics, and the differences between mental health conditions and developmental disabilities.
This two-page resource provides examples of law enforcement encounters with people with developmental disabilities, discusses how understanding more about disabilities leads to safe and effective interactions, and provides examples of possible behaviors of people with developmental disabilities and recommended responses.
This multi-page guide provides insights into the developmental disability community, offers suggestions for successful interactions with people with developmental disabilities, and outlines options for safe and effective deflection and pre-arrest diversion when people with developmental disabilities encounter law enforcement and may be experiencing a crisis or are otherwise in need of services.