IACP Crisis Intervention & De-escalation 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What is the primary goal of Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) programs established under the Memphis Model?
- To increase arrest rates for individuals with mental illness
- To divert individuals in mental health crisis toward appropriate treatment rather than incarceration (Correct answer)
- To train officers in lethal force options during mental health encounters
- To establish specialized SWAT units for mental health calls
Correct answer: To divert individuals in mental health crisis toward appropriate treatment rather than incarceration
CIT programs, originated in Memphis in 1988, aim to connect people experiencing mental health crises with appropriate treatment resources rather than routing them through the criminal justice system.
Question 2: Which active listening technique is considered most essential during initial contact with a person in crisis?
- Issuing direct commands to establish authority
- Maintaining physical distance and remaining silent
- Reflecting and paraphrasing the subject's statements (Correct answer)
- Asking multiple questions simultaneously to gather information quickly
Correct answer: Reflecting and paraphrasing the subject's statements
Reflecting and paraphrasing demonstrates empathy and shows the subject they are heard, which builds rapport and reduces emotional intensity during crisis encounters.
Question 3: In crisis negotiation, 'tactical patience' refers to which of the following?
- Waiting for an armed tactical team to arrive before engaging the subject
- Training negotiators to speak slowly and clearly at all times
- Delaying police response to allow natural resolution without officer involvement
- Allowing adequate time for the subject to calm down rather than forcing rapid resolution (Correct answer)
Correct answer: Allowing adequate time for the subject to calm down rather than forcing rapid resolution
Tactical patience means allowing sufficient time for the crisis to de-escalate naturally, recognizing that most barricade and crisis incidents are resolved without force when given enough time.
Question 4: According to IACP guidelines, what is the recommended first response when encountering a person exhibiting signs of a mental health crisis?
- Attempt verbal de-escalation before considering other options (Correct answer)
- Immediately request backup and establish a containment perimeter
- Handcuff the individual to ensure officer safety
- Contact the subject's family before engaging directly
Correct answer: Attempt verbal de-escalation before considering other options
IACP recommends verbal de-escalation as the primary approach since it can resolve many mental health encounters without escalation to physical control measures.
Question 5: During a hostage situation, which of the following is the highest operational priority?
- Apprehension and prosecution of the hostage-taker
- Recovery and preservation of all physical evidence at the scene
- Media management and maintaining public confidence
- Preservation of life for hostages, officers, and the subject (Correct answer)
Correct answer: Preservation of life for hostages, officers, and the subject
The preservation of life — for hostages, officers, and even the subject — is always the paramount priority in any hostage or crisis situation above all other objectives.
Question 6: The LEAPS acronym used in crisis communication stands for which of the following?
- Listen, Evaluate, Act, Plan, Stabilize
- Listen, Empathize, Ask, Paraphrase, Summarize (Correct answer)
- Locate, Engage, Assess, Prioritize, Secure
- Learn, Empathize, Assess, Protect, Solve
Correct answer: Listen, Empathize, Ask, Paraphrase, Summarize
LEAPS (Listen, Empathize, Ask, Paraphrase, Summarize) is a structured communication framework used in crisis intervention to build rapport and systematically gather information from subjects.
Question 7: Which environmental factor most significantly escalates crisis situations according to de-escalation research?
- Presence of civilian bystanders at the scene
- Darkness or low lighting conditions
- High noise levels and sensory overstimulation (Correct answer)
- Cold weather and outdoor conditions
Correct answer: High noise levels and sensory overstimulation
Noise and sensory overstimulation increase agitation and confusion in individuals experiencing a crisis, making it significantly harder for de-escalation techniques to take effect.
IACP Crisis Intervention & De-escalation 1
What is the primary goal of Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) programs established under the Memphis Model?