Advocacy Spotlight: State Legislation Related to CIT

Currently, there are no state laws mandating CIT programs. However, a few states have taken legislative steps to recognize or fund CIT or other specialized police training programs. A Kentucky law establishes CIT as a best practice and requires that CIT training be made available to interested law enforcement departments. A Texas law requires that all police officers receive 16 hours of training in de-escalation and crisis intervention techniques – not CIT, but a step in the right direction. Finally, Florida law establishes a grant program that funds a variety of projects at the intersection of mental health and criminal justice, including CIT and mental health courts. To learn more, or read these bills, click here.

Tip: If you need assistance in your state advocating for legislation related to CIT or other criminal justice issues, contact the NAMI CIT Resource Center by emailing laurau@nami.org. If you need assistance with other state legislative efforts, contact NAMI’s Director of State Policy, Angela Kimball, by emailing angelak@nami.org.

 

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