SOCE Crisis Intervention and De-escalation 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What is the primary goal of crisis intervention training (CIT) for law enforcement officers?
- Provide faster arrest processing for mentally ill suspects
- Equip officers to safely and effectively respond to individuals experiencing mental health crises (Correct answer)
- Replace mental health professionals in the field
- Authorize officers to involuntarily medicate subjects
Correct answer: Equip officers to safely and effectively respond to individuals experiencing mental health crises
CIT prepares officers to recognize mental health crises, de-escalate situations safely, and connect individuals with appropriate mental health resources rather than defaulting to arrest.
Question 2: Which communication technique is MOST effective when talking with a person in emotional crisis?
- Issuing rapid, clear commands to restore order
- Active listening, using calm tone, and acknowledging the person's feelings (Correct answer)
- Involving multiple officers simultaneously to demonstrate authority
- Threatening consequences to motivate compliance
Correct answer: Active listening, using calm tone, and acknowledging the person's feelings
Active listening and empathetic acknowledgment help de-escalate emotional crises by validating feelings and building rapport, reducing the person's arousal level.
Question 3: An officer encounters a man on a bridge who says he wants to jump. What is the officer's FIRST priority?
- Immediately grab the subject to prevent a jump
- Establish communication, build rapport, and buy time while requesting specialized resources (Correct answer)
- Block traffic and document the scene
- Announce criminal charges to deter the behavior
Correct answer: Establish communication, build rapport, and buy time while requesting specialized resources
In a suicide intervention, establishing calm communication and building rapport is the first priority while waiting for crisis negotiators or mental health resources.
Question 4: What does the acronym 'ALGEE' stand for in the Mental Health First Aid framework used in crisis response?
- Alert, Locate, Guard, Escort, Exit
- Assess for risk, Listen non-judgmentally, Give reassurance, Encourage professional help, Encourage self-help (Correct answer)
- Arrest, Log, Guard, Evaluate, Escort
- Approach, Listen, Gather, Enforce, Exit
Correct answer: Assess for risk, Listen non-judgmentally, Give reassurance, Encourage professional help, Encourage self-help
ALGEE is the Mental Health First Aid action plan: Assess risk of suicide/harm, Listen non-judgmentally, Give reassurance and information, Encourage professional help, Encourage self-help.
Question 5: Which behavior by an officer is MOST likely to escalate a situation with a person in crisis?
- Speaking slowly and calmly
- Using a loud, aggressive tone and issuing rapid commands (Correct answer)
- Giving the person space and time to respond
- Asking open-ended questions
Correct answer: Using a loud, aggressive tone and issuing rapid commands
Loud, aggressive communication and rapid commands elevate the arousal and fear response of a person in crisis, increasing the likelihood of dangerous behavior.
Question 6: A person in a mental health crisis refuses to comply with officer commands but is not committing a crime. What is the appropriate response?
- Arrest them for disorderly conduct immediately
- Use physical force to gain compliance
- Attempt verbal de-escalation, request a CIT officer or crisis team, and avoid force unless safety is threatened (Correct answer)
- Leave the scene and cancel the call
Correct answer: Attempt verbal de-escalation, request a CIT officer or crisis team, and avoid force unless safety is threatened
Mental health crisis situations call for de-escalation, specialized resources, and patience; force is only appropriate if there is an imminent safety threat.
SOCE Crisis Intervention and De-escalation 1
What is the primary goal of crisis intervention training (CIT) for law enforcement officers?