The Use of the Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) Model for Corrections Officers: Reducing Incidents within a County Jail

Abstract

This study presents an adaptation of the Crisis Intervention Team Model (CIT) to a jail setting. Pre-post surveys and interviews assessed changes in corrections officers’ (CO) knowledge of and attitudes toward mental health. Cell Removal Team (CRT) services assessed the impact of CIT on the use of this specialized unit. Results indicate positive changes in CO attitudes, increased de-escalation skills, and an abrupt decrease in the level of CRT usage, with results sustained in the 8-month follow-up period.

Stigmatising attitudes of probation, parole and custodial officers towards people with mental health issues: A systematic literature review and meta‐analysis

“…A total of eight studies (two dissertations) investigated the impacts of various training programs upon stigmatising attitudes of correctional staff (Brown et al, 2018; Canada et al, 2021; Comartin et al, 2020; Dy, 2014; Melnikov et al, 2017; Poland, 2010; Ramsden et al, 2014; Tomar et al, 2017). One study was assessed as being of high overall quality (Melnikov et al, 2017), four studies as medium overall quality (Canada et al, 2021; Comartin et al, 2020;Dy, 2014; Tomar et al, 2017) and three as low quality (Brown et al, 2018; Poland, 2010; Ramsden et al, 2014).…”

“…One study involved an RCT with a control group that did not receive any intervention (Poland, 2010). One study with a pre‐ and post‐intervention study design involved a control group (Canada et al, 2021), while the other studies involved uncontrolled pre‐ and post‐intervention study designs (Brown et al, 2018; Comartin et al, 2020; Dy, 2014; Melnikov et al, 2017; Ramsden et al, 2014; Tomar et al, 2017).…”

“…Two medium‐quality studies investigated the impact of Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) training for custodial officers (Canada et al, 2021; Comartin et al, 2020). Both CIT training programs aimed to provide officers with general knowledge of mental health issues and appropriate responses to clients experiencing mental health issues.…”

“…Both CIT training programs aimed to provide officers with general knowledge of mental health issues and appropriate responses to clients experiencing mental health issues. Notably, one study involved a CIT training of 8 hours (Comartin et al, 2020), while the other study involved a total of 40 training hours delivered over five consecutive days (Canada et al, 2021). Both studies demonstrated reduced stigmatising attitudes post-training.…”

“…Both studies demonstrated reduced stigmatising attitudes post-training. One of the studies (Comartin et al, 2020) Case formulation for clients with personality disorders studies assessed case formulation for clients with personality disorders. One study (Ramsden et al, 2014) showed that probation officers reported more positive emotions towards working with clients with personality disorders after completing a highly structured, formulation-focussed consultation process.…”