                                 CODE OF VIRGINIA

ESTABLISHMENT OF CRISIS INTERVENTION TEAM PROGRAMS (§ 9.1-187)

A. By January 1, 2010, the Department of Criminal Justice Services and the
Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services, utilizing such
federal or state funding as may be available for this purpose, shall support the
development and establishment of crisis intervention team programs in areas
throughout the Commonwealth. Areas may be composed of any combination of one or
more localities or institutions of higher education contained therein that may
have law-enforcement officers as defined in § 9.1-101. The crisis intervention
teams shall assist law-enforcement officers in responding to crisis situations
involving persons with mental illness, substance abuse problems, or both. The
goals of the crisis intervention team programs shall be:

   1. Providing immediate response by specially trained law-enforcement officers;

   2. Reducing the amount of time officers spend out of service awaiting
   assessment and disposition;

   3. Affording persons with mental illness, substance abuse problems, or both, a
   sense of dignity in crisis situations;

   4. Reducing the likelihood of physical confrontation;

   5. Decreasing arrests and use of force;

   6. Identifying underserved populations with mental illness, substance abuse
   problems, or both, and linking them to appropriate care;

   7. Providing support and assistance for mental health treatment professionals;

   8. Decreasing the use of arrest and detention of persons experiencing mental
   health and/or substance abuse crises by providing better access to timely
   treatment;

   9. Providing a therapeutic location or protocol for officers to bring
   individuals in crisis for assessment that is not a law-enforcement or jail
   facility;

   10. Increasing public recognition and appreciation for the mental health needs
   of a community;

   11. Decreasing injuries to law-enforcement officers during crisis events;

   12. Reducing inappropriate arrests of individuals with mental illness in
   crisis situations; and

   13. Decreasing the need for mental health treatment in jail.

B. The Department, in collaboration with the Department of Behavioral Health and
Developmental Services, shall establish criteria for the development of crisis
intervention teams that shall include assessment of the effectiveness of the
area&#8217;s plan for community involvement, training, and therapeutic response
alternatives and a determination of whether law-enforcement officers have
effective agreements with mental health care providers and all other community
stakeholders.

C. By November 1, 2009, the Department, and the Department of Behavioral Health
and Developmental Services, shall submit to the Joint Commission on Health Care
a report outlining the status of the crisis intervention team programs,
including copies of any requests for proposals and the criteria developed for
such areas.

HISTORY: 2009, c. 715; 2012, c. 776.