Police Officers Volunteering for (Rather than Being Assigned to) Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) Training: Evidence for a Beneficial Self-Selection Effect

摘要

ObjectiveOfficers' volunteering for Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) training—rather than being assigned—is assumed to be an important, beneficial self-selection bias. This bias remains poorly characterized, though CIT officers are more likely to be female and to have had exposure to the mental health field. We determined whether or not self-selection is beneficial with regard to knowledge, attitudes, and skills, as well as level of force used (i.e., no or low force versus any form of physical force) and disposition of subjects, in actual encounters.