>> Law Enforcement Approaches to Citizens with Mental Illnesses (03/2007)

A Message from Sheriff Ted Mink

About a year ago, the Sheriff's Office got a call about a woman threatening to kill herself by driving off a cliff.  Deputies eventually found her standing on a bridge.  She was despondent, suicidal, and had a history of mental illness and use of psychotropic medications.  She had given up on doctors and the other mental health resources she had tried. 

The deputies on scene talked to her for 45 minutes. They took a relaxed approach, remained patient, and tried to redirect her to think about planning for the future.  Most of all, they recognized that she needed to be heard, and they listened as she talked about years' worth of problems.

After nearly an hour, she gave up on her suicide mission, and deputies took her to get treatment and contact family.

Crisis Intervention Training
In 2003, the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office began training a number of deputies in crisis intervention skills, so that we might provide better services to the mentally ill in our community.  About 5 percent of Americans suffer from a serious mental illness, according to the National Alliance for the Mentally Ill (NAMI).  Many more have milder diagnoses or experience suicidal thoughts.

Because of the nature of some of these illnesses, mentally ill citizens may be more likely to have contact with police.  The law enforcement approach to crises involving the mentally ill has changed.  Today, more deputies have the skills to identify characteristics of mental illness, the ability to intervene in a crisis, and the resources to help the person in question.

The crisis intervention program has educated thousands of officers throughout Colorado, including 66 at the Sheriff's Office.  The program involves selective recruitment of officers and an intense 40-hour training course involving expert lecturers, role-playing scenarios with actors, and visits to local mental health facilities.  Once certified in crisis intervention, the deputies are dubbed CITs, for Crisis Intervention Team.

Today, a CIT-trained deputy will respond to most incidents involving mental health issues or suicide attempts in Jefferson County.  Of course, a deputy isn't a doctor.  But the more education a deputy has in assessing and defusing a crisis, the better.

Mental Health at the Jefferson County Jail
In 2006, the Jefferson County Jail took a closer look at its mental health services for inmates.  The jail, which employs counselors and medical staff, also increased deputy training in suicide prevention and mental health issues. 

Also in 2006, the Sheriff's Office began collecting a booking fee from inmates booked into the jail.  Colorado law dictates that 20 percent of the fees goes toward mental health programs for inmates, and another 20 percent goes to deputy training, including training in mental health issues.  

The revenue dedicated to mental health services will fund a full-time employee who will set up appointments for inmates with available providers upon their release from jail.  Our hope is that by linking former inmates with mental health services, we will be helping them while reducing the likelihood that they will one day return to the jail.   

Helpful Local Resources
Here are two organizations that can help citizens with mental health questions or problems:

Juvenile Assessment Center: 303-271-4567, www.jeffcojac.org
Jefferson Center for Mental Health: 303-425-0300, www.jeffersonmentalhealth.org

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Last Modified: May 20, 2009 11:26 AM