Jacksonville Crisis Intervention Team

Quick Facts:

Name of coordinating law enforcement agency:
Jacksonville Sheriffs Office
Approximate number of officers in agency:
2000
Primary specialized response:
Police officers are trained to provide crisis intervention services and to act as liaisons to the mental health system.
Program start year:
2005 or earlier
Total number of officers in program:
approximately 1000

Jacksonville Crisis Intervention Team

Contact:

Name:
Tara Wildes
Title:
Chief
Organization:
Jacksonville Sheriffs Office
Address:
501 East Bay Street
Jacksonville, FL 32202
Email:
Tara.Wildes@jaxsheriff.org
Phone:
904-630-5794

Agency Information

Name of coordinating law enforcement agency:
Jacksonville Sheriffs Office
Type of government that operates law enforcement agency:
State consolidated city/county
Approximate number of officers in agency:
2000

Specialized Response Description

Program start year:
2005 or earlier
Primary specialized response:
Police officers are trained to provide crisis intervention services and to act as liaisons to the mental health system.
Secondary specialized response:
There is only one specialized response program in the jurisdiction.
Background information:
Approximately 2 years to conduct research and build the curriculum, and gather the collaboration from the mental health community.
Total number of officers in program:
approximately 1000
Catchment area:
The entire jurisdiction
Funding source(s):
  • Sheriff's Department
    • Staff supported by funding:

      Program Partners and Personnel

      Existence of planning and oversight committee:
      Yes, currently
      Committee participants:
      • Law enforcement line-level staff
      • Law enforcement supervisory-level staff
      • Law enforcement leadership
      • Mental health (and/or substance abuse) line-level staff
      • Mental health (and/or substance abuse) supervisory-level staff
      • Mental health (and/or substance abuse) leadership
      • Consumers of mental health services
      • Family members of consumers
      • Advocates
      Mental health or advocacy agencies that participate in program:
      NE FL Mental Health Association, Jacksonville Alliance for the Mentally Ill, Jacksonville Mental Health Colation, Mental Health Resource Center, Community Rehabilitation Center, ACT Team
      Written agreement of roles and procedures:
      Yes
      Recruitment and selection:
      We began with all volunteers; now we provide the training to all recruits as they come out of our academy.
      Program coordinator/boundary spanner
      Yes. The program coordinator represents a law enforcement agency
      Michele Remolde, Assistant Chief Michele.Remolde@jaxsheriff.org 904-713-4900

      Training on Mental Health Issues

      Types of training on mental health issues:
    • Pre-service training for new recruits at the academy
    • 40
    • Basic in-service training for all patrol officers
    • 8
    • 8
    • Basic in-service training for dispatchers and / or call takers
    • 8
    • 8
    • 40
    • Advanced in-service training for dispatchers and / or call takers
    • 40
      • Number of officers who receive advanced training:
      approx 1000
      Groups who conducts advanced training:
    • Police officers
    • Mental health professionals (crisis workers)
    • Medical professionals (doctors or nurses)
    • Consumers
    • Community members
    • Advocates
    • Family member of a person with mental illness
      • Advanced training topics:
      • Recognizing symptoms of mental illness, and clinical issues
      • Co-occurring disorders
      • Psychiatric medications
      • Community resources (mental health services, etc.)
      • Legal issues concerning individuals with mental illness
      • Legal issues concerning police officer liability
      • De-escalation techniques
      • Less lethal use of force options
      • Suicide prevention
      • The role of families and other supports in mental health treatment and recovery
      Advanced training methods:
    • Presentations (including panels, lectures, and/or PowerPoints)
    • Role plays
    • Site visits to community mental health facilities
    • Videotapes

      • Response Procedures

      Standardized dispatch questions:
      Yes
      Dispatch documentation:
    • Document in central computer database used for all calls, such as a Computer Aided Dispatch (CAD) system
      • Incident documentation by responding officer:
    • Relay information to dispatch who records it in general computer database used for all calls, such as a Computer Aided Dispatch (CAD) system
    • Record information in a field encounter form, or other form used to document every citizen encounter
    • Record information in an arrest report
      • Use of information on individuals' mental illness stored in police records:
      Advisory when a call comes from an address that is linked with a person with a known mental illness; CIT would be dispatched. Corrections personnel are also advised if subject is arrested.
      Mental health professional available to support police responder:
    • No
      • Officers permitted to transport people with mental illness to services when:
      • The person has volunteered to receive mental health treatment
      • The person is being brought to a hospital for emergency evaluation
      • The person is being brought to a crisis center or other health care facility for stabilization or medications management
      Officers allowed to transport a person without handcuffs:
      Only when injury or disablity would prevent restraint
      Access to drop-off locations:
      Yes. It is open 24 hours a day.
      Procedure for streamlined intake and a "no refusal" policy for police referrals?
      No
      Location of drop-off center(s):
    • Psychiatric emergency / crisis center
      • Length of time for drop-off and return to patrol:
      21-30 minutes

      Program Sustainability

      Data collection:
      Yes
      Published evaluation:
      No
      Local media coverage:
      http://jacksonville.com/tu-online/stories/042101/met_5972966.html http://jacksonville.com/tu-online/stories/012100/met_1870908.html
      Legislative funding or support:
      No
      About this information:

      A program representative provided this information details through a detailed survey.

      For more information on the survey, read about our methodology or download a pdf of the full survey.

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