A major limitation in this study was the lack of ‘pre-CIT’ data. Before the CIT program
was implemented, a special dispatch code for suspected mental illness did not exist and the
calls involving PwMI were coded for the specific crime that had occurred. The absence of
‘pre-CIT’ data makes it difficult to draw causal inferences about the effectiveness of the
program. Another limitation in this study was the lack of information regarding the total
number of calls for service received by each police department, which would have provided
more insight on the volume of mental disturbance calls that are now being answered by a
CIT-trained officer that previously would not have been. Finally, having the CIT officer
designate (on the tracking form) whether the person would have likely been arrested in this
circumstance before CIT is certainly subject to some limitations and potential biases. On
balance, however, it may be the most direct measure available using within-case rather than
between-case comparisons because the responding officer would have been the one making
a dispositional decision anyway.