MN Department of Corrections Crisis Intervention Training -

Implementation

Warden Michelle Smith – MCF StillwaterPatti Hecht- Kressly, President -Pro-Crisis LLCSgt. Glenn Lisowy – MCF- Oak Park Heights

CIT InternationalAugust 21, 2012Las Vegas, NV

CIT video

Correctional Facilities in Minnesota

MCF-Stillwater (1635) MCF-Oak Park Heights (473 )

MCF-Rush City (1030) MCF-St. Cloud (1054 )

Crisis Intervention Training (CIT) Implementation

• Do it right▫ 40 hours▫ Excellent Speakers▫ Focus on Role Plays

Enough time As Real As Possible

(ARAP) Scenarios Actors Coaches Class size

• Our goals for the training▫ New skills▫ Attitudes▫ Culture Change

• Who should attend▫ Application process

Selection Selection Selection (Recruitment)

CIT Steering Committee

Deputy Commissioner Director Behavioral Health

National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI)

Training Committee (Warden Rep) Research Director

Director of Employee Development Facility CIT Representatives (one

each)CIT Training Committee

Warden NAMI

Employee Development Behavioral Health

CIT “Expert” Security Representative

Contractor

Facility CIT Committees

Associate Warden OperationsMental Health Director

NAMI/AdvocateAdditional members

NAMI Support•Panelists/speakers •Unique perspective•Reaching out to community partners to

strengthen CIT infrastructure

Selection of officers• Long-range Goal is to train 20% of DOC Security

Staff. To start at OPH, STW, RC & SCL.• Not every officer is cut out to be a CIT officer nor

do they have an interest. • Our selection process identifies those officers

with good people skills, patience, and an ability to think critically. No discipline record.

• Beginning with Officers working in Segregation and with our growing Mental Health offender population. Working toward all officers and other staff within the facilities.

CIT Course Topics•Day One

▫Introduction and Overview – warden▫History of CIT – warden▫Mental Health Basics – Ph.D. from facility▫Round Table – NAMI MN facilitator and

consumers▫De-escalation and communication

techniques▫Role Play

•Day Two▫Axis 2 Mental health – Personality

Disorders Therapist from Mental health Facility

▫Medications▫Suicide risk factors and prevention▫Self Care▫Role Play

•Day Three▫Treatment Systems▫Overview of special need offenders – TBI

DD▫Ex- Offender experience▫Experiential Exercises- hearing voices mp3

and other exercises.▫Role Play

•Day Four▫Site Visits

Recovery Program/half way house MN DOC mental health facility Out patient/day treatment

▫Civil Commitment▫Cultural Competency ▫Military Vets and PTSD

•Day Five▫Role Play▫Policy and Procedure▫CIT Resources▫Graduation

Wardens from all facilities with students Commissioner of Corrections Other dignitaries

Role Plays for DOC CIT•MN DOC Officers participate in 8 hours of

Role Playing within the 40 hour class.•Professional Actors as role players

▫Actors must fit demographics of offenders.▫Actors “experienced” inside two of the

facilities.•Scenarios must be realistic to officers

experiences.▫Terms, locations, weapons, clothing, safety.▫Crisis situations

Compare/Contrast CIT: Law Enforcement vs. Corrections

•Beliefs of CIT (Hug a thug) and changing the culture of the system.

•Contact time with Offender.•Officer Safety and Security Issues.•Policy and procedure differences.•Availability of resources.

CIT Officer PerspectiveSgt. Glenn Lisowy

•Need for it•Already do it (IPC) •Training is a reference point•Support of Administration

Recognition of CIT officers•Recognizing CIT officers provides an

incentive for them to continue with CIT.

•Let staff know there participation is important and helps provide a sense of accomplishment and ownership to this program.

Program Evaluation and Sustainability•Evaluation can help measure the impact

of the CIT program (outcomes), can help with program improvements and provide the kind of information to assist with sustainability.

•There needs to be a system in place for on-going training to ensure your knowledge and skills remain sharp.

Minnesota Department of Corrections Progress

• Sent 4 teams to NIC training: Central Office 12/10, Stillwater 3/11, Oak Park Heights 7/11, Rush City 12/11

Crisis Intervention Teams: A Frontline Response to Mental Illness in Corrections

• Hired contractor to assist with CIT training• Completed 40 hour training curriculum• Provided (3) trainings (Nov 2011, Feb 2012, May

2012 ) 86 Department of Corrections staff, 5 Hennepin County Staff and 2 Iowa Depart of Corrections staff.

Minnesota Department of Corrections Progress – Continued

•Provided coaches training – 17 Department of Corrections staff

•Completed CIT policy•Completed CIT incident report form•Planning to involve Shakopee, Red Wing•Hoping to continue partnerships with

other local agencies as well as other States.

CIT Policy Elements• Purpose and Definitions• Application & selection process• Training program outline and essential

components• Ongoing refresher training• Available officers• CIT activation and appropriate utilization• Report & evaluation• Officer removal from CIT

• Copies available on request

Five Year Plan Framework• CIT should be well-integrated into DOC facilities

▫ A minimum of 25% of correctional officers are CIT trained

▫ We should have a solid core of coaches at each site▫ CIT symposium and recognition program will be well

attended• Evaluations of CIT should show that it is

effective ▫ Improves safety for staff and offenders ▫ Decreases instances of use of force

• Minnesota DOC will be recognized nationally for integrating CIT into facilities and field services

DOC CIT class #1 November 4, 2011

DOC CIT class #2 February 10, 2012

DOC CIT class #3 May 14-18, 2012

Questions???Thank You and Good Luck!

Michelle Smith - WardenMCF-StillwaterMichelle.smith@state.mn.us

Patti Kressly - PresidentPro-Crisispatti@procrisis.com

Glenn Lisowy- Sergeant MCF-Oak Park Heights