Incarcerated people who are seriously mentally ill can be exceptionally disruptive to a correctional system and require tremendous institutional time and effort to manage.  In addition, the traditional custody responses to such disruptive behavior frequently puts the patient and the deputies at increased risk for harm.  This talk presents the development and the impact of an evidence-based practice of incorporating corrections-specific Crisis Intervention Team training program into a high-acuity mental health unit and the long-term benefits to the patients, the deputies, the mental health staff, and the institution. 

Educational objectives

• Describe the components of a corrections-specific Crisis Intervention Team curriculum
• Identify the steps to implement a Crisis Intervention Team program in a correctional facility
• Discuss the benefits of training deputies to use Crisis Intervention Team techniques when managing mentally ill patients

Level: I