What is the primary purpose of a Crisis Intervention Team?

The primary purpose of a Crisis Intervention Team is to address mental health crises and provide support. This special unit is trained specifically to handle situations involving individuals experiencing a mental health crisis. Team members typically include law enforcement officers who have received specialized training in mental health issues, de-escalation techniques, and crisis management.

The focus of these teams is to ensure that individuals in crisis receive appropriate care and support rather than being funneled directly into the criminal justice system. By doing so, they aim to reduce the chances of violence or harm to the individual and others, promote community safety, and connect individuals to necessary mental health services.

In contrast, providing emergency medical assistance is not the main focus of Crisis Intervention Teams, as they are specifically focused on mental health issues rather than general medical emergencies. Conducting criminal investigations and managing routine police operations fall outside the scope of a Crisis Intervention Team's purpose, which is centered on mental health response and support.