Strong collaboration between custody and health care staff is essential to the well-being of incarcerated individuals and the smooth, safe operation of any facility. Yet misunderstandings about roles and responsibilities can strain these partnerships. Effective leaders work intentionally to bridge those gaps and align both teams around shared mission and goals. Foremost is suicide prevention—central to the “care” in Care, Custody, and Control—which must be reinforced from initial training onward. Developing and sustaining a suicide-prevention curriculum that meaningfully integrates health care staff strengthens teamwork, consistency, and prevention efforts.  Additionally, given the staggering mental health needs within incarcerated populations, coordinated care is more critical than ever. Supporting individuals with mental illness requires a unified effort across custody, health care, the courts, and community partners. Emerging programs—such as Stepping Up, mental health courts, and therapeutic housing units—demonstrate the impact of effective collaboration. Leaders play a pivotal role in shaping these initiatives and ensuring safe, successful outcomes for patients, staff, and the public.

Educational Objectives

• Describe ways to maximize collaboration with medical staff
• Design a training curriculum for corrections staff on suicide prevention
• Explain the new role of correctional staff in mental health care