Chief Assistant Prosecutor Named CIT Coordinator of the Year – Morris County, NJ

Published on November 07, 2024

Meg Rodriguez Chosen by Crisis Intervention Team of New Jersey

The Morris County Board of County Commissioners congratulate Chief Assistant Prosecutor Meg Rodriguez for being chosen as the recipient of the 2023 Coordinator of the Year Award by the Crisis Intervention Team of New Jersey (CIT-NJ), in recognition of her dedication to CIT-NJ Morris County Program.

The award was presented to Rodriguez during a special dinner ceremony at the CIT-NJ two-day conference in Atlantic City, held on Oct. 28., 2024.

Launched in 2021, the Morris County Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) seeks to bring law enforcement, first responders and mental health professionals together to provide a more effective response to those who are dealing with a mental or behavioral health crisis.

Morris County’s 40-hour training program covers a range of mental health disorders, including schizophrenia, depression, developmental disabilities, and autism spectrum disorders. The training is designed to equip participants with skills to handle encounters with law enforcement safely. It focuses on communication strategies and de-escalation techniques, as well as providing information and access to services that can help individuals in crisis, offering alternatives to incarceration.

The curriculum consists of classroom instruction, community site visits and practical exercises delivered by local mental health professionals, CIT law enforcement instructors, and other subject matter experts.

“Chief Assistant Prosecutor Rodriguez’s outstanding leadership in the CIT-NJ Morris County Program has ensured its success and has become a model for other counties throughout New Jersey,” said Prosecutor Robert Carroll. “Combined with our other mental health division efforts, also overseen by CAP Rodriguez, Morris County is on the forefront of improving law enforcement’s response to subjects experiencing mental health crisis and bringing about the best possible outcomes for all involved. I commend the tireless efforts of CAP Rodriguez in making that happen.”

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Photo: Chief Assistant Prosecutor Meg Rodriguez and CIT-NJ Director Chief Edward Dobleman.