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When a 911 call involves someone having a mental health episode, a traditional police response often makes things worse. That’s why Harris County created a different solution. The crisis intervention team doesn’t rely on standard enforcement. Instead, it brings together deputies and mental health professionals to defuse high-stress situations before they escalate. This approach changes outcomes for individuals who need help, not handcuffs. The crisis intervention team plays a growing role in how Texas responds to psychiatric emergencies.
The Core Mission of the Crisis Intervention Team
The Harris County Crisis Intervention Team responds to calls involving people in psychological distress. Their main goal is to reduce unnecessary arrests and hospitalisations by connecting individuals to the right care. They don’t rely on standard enforcement tactics. Instead, they apply de-escalation techniques, clinical assessments, and informed judgement to stabilise crises on the spot.
How the Team Operates on the Ground
CIRT units travel together: a law enforcement officer and a licensed mental health professional. When 911 dispatchers receive calls that hint at a mental health issue, they route these cases to available CIRT responders. Once they arrive, the mental health clinician evaluates the person’s condition while the deputy handles safety.
The team can resolve many crises without force or arrest. In some cases, they refer individuals to mental health clinics, temporary crisis care centres, or substance abuse programs. If the person poses a danger to themselves or others, the team can initiate an emergency detention under Texas law.
Partnership with the Harris Center for Mental Health
The Harris Center provides the clinicians who ride with deputies. As the largest mental health provider in the region, the Harris Center plays a central role in shaping the approach. The partnership brings balance to each call—law enforcement manages risk, while clinicians handle care.
This dual-response model builds trust in communities where police intervention used to mean jail or worse. Now, residents see an alternative approach that prioritises human life and wellbeing.
Training Behind the Badge
Every deputy assigned to CIRT receives advanced mental health training. The program covers topics like:
- Suicide prevention
- Recognising signs of schizophrenia, PTSD, or bipolar disorder
- Communicating with non-verbal or disoriented individuals
- Responding to autism-related emergencies
Clinicians also prepare officers to handle repeat callers, medication non-compliance, and unpredictable behaviour. The goal is to prevent the use of force while protecting everyone involved.
Why Harris County Needs a Mental Health Crisis Response
Harris County has one of the largest jail populations in the country, and a significant portion of inmates suffer from mental illness. The jail has, in effect, become one of Texas’s largest mental health providers.
This isn’t sustainable.
The CIRT model shifts the focus away from incarceration and back toward treatment. The more crises it handles in the field, the fewer end up clogging jails, ERs, or courtrooms. This benefits not only the people in crisis but also families, neighbours, and first responders.
Impact on the Community
CIRT doesn’t just lower arrest rates. It reduces use-of-force incidents, hospital admissions, and repeat 911 calls. The team builds connections with high-risk individuals so they’re more likely to seek help next time voluntarily.
Here’s what their efforts have achieved in recent years:
- Quicker response times to psychiatric emergencies
- Better outcomes for people with severe mental illness
- Reduced burden on jails and emergency rooms
- Safer working conditions for officers
Residents report feeling safer and more heard. Families struggling with a loved one’s mental health crisis find relief in knowing a trained team exists that won’t default to handcuffs.
Common Types of Calls Handled by CIRT
The Harris County Crisis Intervention Team regularly addresses:
- Suicidal thoughts or attempts
- Delusions or hallucinations
- Substance use linked to mental instability
- Public disturbances tied to psychiatric issues
- Domestic tension involving someone with untreated mental illness
Instead of triggering force or escalation, the team uses communication to calm individuals and guide them to treatment options. Officers who would otherwise respond alone now have a support system that leads to better decision-making and safer outcomes.
How It Differs From Traditional Policing
Standard patrol officers receive minimal mental health training. Their job is to restore order, not diagnose behaviour. In contrast, a crisis intervention team responds with a different mindset. They aim to stabilise, not dominate. They come equipped with insight into mental health symptoms, not just criminal statutes.
That shift changes the trajectory of many situations. Someone experiencing a manic episode or psychosis doesn’t get arrested—they get help.
The Bigger Picture: Redefining Public Safety
Mental health crises are public health issues, not crimes. The Harris County Crisis Intervention Team shows how cities can rethink emergency response models. By investing in mental health professionals, law enforcement agencies can prevent violence, reduce incarceration, and rebuild trust.
Communities don’t need to choose between safety and compassion. Programs like this prove both can coexist when departments shift priorities and rethink response systems.
How Families Can Get Help
If you live in Harris County and someone you love is struggling with a mental health crisis, you can request a CIRT unit. Call 911 and describe the situation clearly. Ask the dispatcher to send the Crisis Intervention Response Team if available.
Also, contact the Harris Center’s 24/7 crisis line: 713-970-7000. They can provide referrals, mobile units, or outpatient services. Early intervention often prevents escalation and helps individuals get care before things spiral.
What’s Next for Crisis Response in Texas?
Other counties are taking note. As Harris County continues to refine its CIRT model, cities like Dallas, San Antonio, and Austin are building their own co-responder programs. State funding and grants support these expansions as lawmakers acknowledge the value in non-traditional response teams.
Public demand is also growing. Families want mental health calls handled with skill and empathy, not force. The more success stories emerge from programs like CIRT, the faster others will follow.
Final Thoughts
The Harris County Crisis Intervention Team has become a model for mental health response. It replaces outdated tactics with an approach built on de-escalation, compassion, and community trust. As the conversation about policing and mental health continues across Texas, CIRT leads the way with results that speak louder than headlines.
