Virtual Reality Added to South Carolina Police Training
The Clemson University Police Department and the Clemson University Center for Public Safety Research have partnered to introduce virtual reality into Crisis Intervention Team training. The National Alliance on Mental Illness in South Carolina delivers the training statewide to law enforcement officers.
The project is part of the Byrne State Crisis Intervention Programme. It continues collaboration between the police department, university researchers, and the state mental health organisation. The initiative focuses on adding immersive virtual reality experiences to the existing CIT (Crisis Intervention Team) and CRIT (Crisis Response Intervention Team) training programme.
Traditional policing approaches have been identified as limited in preparing officers for encounters involving individuals experiencing mental health crises. The first Crisis Intervention Team programme was developed by the Memphis Police Department in 1988, bringing together law enforcement, mental health professionals, and community stakeholders to improve safety during such interactions.
Following the development of the Memphis model, CIT International was established in 2008 to support crisis response reform. The organisation assists communities worldwide in implementing programmes at local, state and regional levels. CIT training has since become widely used for police response to mental health incidents. The course typically runs for 40 hours and trains officers to recognise signs of mental illness, apply appropriate communication techniques, and use de-escalation strategies to maintain safety.
The Clemson initiative is designed to expand the existing training by introducing virtual reality systems alongside classroom instruction and face-to-face role-play exercises. Kyle McLean, Director of the Centre for Public Safety Research and lead researcher on the project, is overseeing the work with the police department and the state mental health organisation to revise the curriculum. The update incorporates virtual reality scenarios into modules covering different types of mental illness.
The virtual reality component allows participants to experience simulated crisis situations from multiple perspectives, including that of responding officers and individuals experiencing mental health conditions. The scenarios use sound, visual distortion, and environmental effects to replicate symptoms associated with conditions such as schizophrenia or autism.
Within the simulations, participants may hear intrusive voices or experience difficulty concentrating due to competing distractions. They may also become highly focused on perceived stressors, reflecting symptoms associated with paranoia and related conditions. The training is intended to support a clearer understanding of how mental health symptoms can influence perception and behaviour during police encounters.
Deputy Chief Christopher Harrington of the Clemson University Police Department stated that the additional training method is intended to strengthen the delivery of existing CIT and CRIT programmes. He said the approach is also designed to support first responders in managing mental health-related calls for service.
Project leaders have also identified the relevance of the training for officers serving in rural areas, where specialised mental health response units or co-responder teams may not be available. While such services have become more common in some jurisdictions, many smaller communities rely on patrol officers to respond to mental health incidents.
Once the revised curriculum is ready for full implementation, an evaluation will be conducted to assess outcomes. The assessment will examine the overall impact of CIT training and compare results between programmes delivered with and without the virtual reality component.
