The Memphis Model is developed after white police murdered Joseph DeWayne Robinson, a 27-year-old Black man who was experiencing a mental health crisis. The model spreads around the country to thousands of departments that begin developing de-escalation strategies to respond to mental health crises.

Many criticize this model, noting its lack of awareness of the impact of racial profiling. They also critique Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) programs for merely "checking the box" by providing individual trainings to officers while failing to integrate that training into the wider approach of policing.

CIT trainings will fail to reduce the rate of police murders of citizens, particularly of Black men and/or people who are neurodivergent or have cognitive, developmental, or mental health disabilities.