2015 Mississippi Code
Title 41 - PUBLIC HEALTH
Chapter 21 - INDIVIDUALS WITH MENTAL ILLNESS OR AN INTELLECTUAL DISABILITY
CRISIS INTERVENTION TEAMS
§ 41-21-131 - Definitions

As used in Sections 41-21-131 through 41-21-143, the following terms shall have the meanings as defined in this section:

(a) "Crisis Intervention Team" means a community partnership among a law enforcement agency, a community mental health center, a hospital, other mental health providers, consumers and family members of consumers.

(b) "Participating partner" means a law enforcement agency, a community mental health center or a hospital that has each entered into collaborative agreements needed to implement a Crisis Intervention Team.

(c) "Catchment area" means a geographical area in which a Crisis Intervention Team operates and is defined by the jurisdictional boundaries of the law enforcement agency that is the participating partner.

(d) "Crisis Intervention Team officer" or "CIT officer" means a law enforcement officer who is authorized to make arrests under Section 99-3-1 and who is trained and certified in crisis intervention and who is working for a law enforcement agency that is a participating partner in a Crisis Intervention Team.

(e) "Substantial likelihood of bodily harm" means that:

(i) The person has threatened or attempted suicide or to inflict serious bodily harm to himself; or

(ii) The person has threatened or attempted homicide or other violent behavior; or

(iii) The person has placed others in reasonable fear of violent behavior and serious physical harm to them; or

(iv) The person is unable to avoid severe impairment or injury from specific risks; and

(v) There is substantial likelihood that serious harm will occur unless the person is placed under emergency treatment.

(f) "Single point of entry" means a specific hospital that is the participating partner in a Crisis Intervention Team and that has agreed to provide psychiatric emergency services and triage and referral services.

(g) "Psychiatric emergency services" means services designed to reduce the acute psychiatric symptoms of a person who is mentally ill or a person who has an impairment caused by drugs or alcohol and, when possible, to stabilize that person so that continuing treatment can be provided in the local community.

(h) "Triage and referral services" means services designed to provide evaluation of a person with mental illness or a person who has an impairment caused by drugs or alcohol in order to direct that person to a mental health facility or other mental health provider that can provide appropriate treatment.

(i) "Comprehensive psychiatric emergency service" means a specialized psychiatric service operated by the single point of entry and located in or near the hospital emergency department that can provide psychiatric emergency services for a period of time greater than can be provided in the hospital emergency department.

(j) "Extended observation bed" means a hospital bed that is used by a comprehensive psychiatric emergency service and is licensed by the State Department of Health for that purpose.

(k) "Psychiatric nurse practitioner" means a registered nurse who has completed the educational requirements specified by the State Board of Nursing, has successfully passed either the adult or family psychiatric nurse practitioner examination and is licensed by the State Board of Nursing to work under the supervision of a physician at a single point of entry following protocols approved by the State Board of Nursing.

(l) "Psychiatric physician assistant" means a physician assistant who has completed the educational requirements and passed the certification examination as specified in Section 73-26-3, is licensed by the State Board of Medical Licensure, has had at least one (1) year of practice as a physician assistant employed by a community mental health center, and is working under the supervision of a physician at a single point of entry.