Crisis intervention
The Crisis Intervention Team composed of certified officers respond to persons in mental health crises, with the objective of diverting them from the criminal justice system and getting them to help to address their physical and mental health needs. This not only provides more appropriate treatment to such persons, but also reduces the justice system costs associated with the mentally ill.
To become certified, an officer must complete a 40-hour training course, and ongoing training is required to maintain certification. Subjects covered in the training include an overview of mental disorders, recognizing types of mental illnesses, and communicating with mentally ill individuals. Officers learn different techniques for different disorders. Seattle Police Department began Crisis Intervention Team program in1997, and partners with the Seattle-King County Health Department, the State Mental Health Division and the Washington State Alliance for the Mentally Ill.
