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Crisis Intervention Teams (CIT)

CIT is a community collaboration program which brings together community resources to promote the best possible outcomes for people experiencing behavioral health, intellectual/developmental disabilities, and/or neurocognitive concerns, who come in contact with the criminal justice system due to behaviors correlated with their conditions.  Its focus is to facilitate access to treatment rather than placement into the criminal justice system.  CIT provides a community forum for effective problem-solving and context for sustainable systematic change.

 

We work with communities to assist in the development and sustainability of CIT programs and trainings.

CIT Program Objectives

  1. Develop a compassionate, effective, and less intrusive community-based crisis response system.

  2. Help people access treatment rather than placement into the criminal justice system due to  behaviors manifested by their condition.

  3. Provide to first responders information and resources on diversion/deflection opportunities.  

  4. Support advanced and specialized training beyond the standard CIT training (e.g., telecom, corrections, and advanced).

Oregon Counties CIT Status Map

 This map is updated quarterly. Last update: January 2024. 

“CIT: It’s more than just training.”

—Major (ret.) Sam Cochran

While CIT is known for providing 40-hours of training to law enforcement and others who respond to individuals who are experiencing a crisis, it provides so much more. Officer training is just one small piece of the puzzle. CIT programs should include strong sustained partnerships, program infrastructure, and systemic changes to law enforcement and behavioral health systems.

Testimonials

“Great work on scenarios. I was not wanting to do this, but had fun. WAY TO GO.” 

Clatskanie Police Department

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“All the people in the county got together for one common goal, to help people (scenario day).” 

Umatilla Tribal PD

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“Learning about people’s interactions with law enforcement made it easier to understand their perspective.”

Columbia County Sheriff’s Office.

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“I thought this was very successful and look forward to working on future classes”.

Ontario Police Department.

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“Enlightened me on what people are feeling-hearing or why they are acting the way they do”.

Malheur County Jail

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