crisis intervention team

[ krahy-sis in-ter-ven-shuhn teem ]

noun

1. a group of specially trained police officers supported by mental health workers and emergency medical services, who are dispatched to emergency calls related to mental health and substance abuse, with the aim of reducing the role of law enforcement and the criminal justice system in such incidents. : CIT

Word History and Origins

Origin of crisis intervention team¹

First recorded in 1945–50

Example Sentences

The review confirmed that Ruby had previously disclosed to the Crisis Intervention Team that she had older boyfriends giving her vodka and sexually abusing her.

From BBC

Rickert said she met with a crisis intervention team and that she was given photos of the man and his vehicle.

From Los Angeles Times

More than 2,000 of Philadelphia’s roughly 6,000 police officers have gone through Crisis Intervention Team training— a 40-hour module on mental health issues and how to respond to someone who is in a crisis, Cram said.

From Seattle Times

Henrico County police officers said they responded to a report of a “possible burglary,” along with their Crisis Intervention Team.

From Washington Post

According to the police, the response that day included a crisis intervention team, made up of officers trained in handling acute mental health episodes.

From New York Times