CIT Course Announcement September 2025

CRISIS INTERVENTION TEAM TRAINING
The Southwest Virginia Criminal Justice Training Academy will be hosting a five-day, forty-hour
(40) Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) training from September 15 through September 19, 2025.
The course is open to current law enforcement officers, corrections officers, mental health
professionals, health care professionals and other specialist’s integral to the recognition and
treatment of mental illness.

Highlights:
– Learn from mental health professionals and experienced law enforcement officers from
local agencies on how to recognize and deal with people experiencing mental health
crises.
– Verbal de-escalation skills: CIT teaches skills for officer safety – the words, approach
and body language that convince a person to get help or defuse a potentially violent
encounter.
– Familiarity with community resources: Site visits to community locations that offer help
and assistance to those experiencing mental health crises.
– Scenario-based training on responding to crises. With the help of trained experienced
officers and mental health workers, students practice their skills in common crisis
situations, and get immediate feedback from instructors and classmates.
– And much more

Training Fee: Free to law enforcement/corrections agencies as well as local mental health and
health care agencies.

In-service- 34 hours of career development
4 hours of legal
2 hours of cultural diversity
40 hours total

Course taught by members of Highlands Crisis Intervention Team as well as multiple community
partners.

Course Registration: Complete academy registration form and forward to academy.