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

• Author: Erin B. Comartin,Kendra Wells,Alana Zacharias,Sheryl Kubiak
• Date: 01 November 2020
• Published date: 01 November 2020
• DOI: 10.1177/0032885520956334
• Subject Matter: Articles

https://doi.org/10.1177/0032885520956334

The Prison Journal

2020, Vol. 100(5) 581 –602

© 2020 SAGE Publications

Article reuse guidelines:

sagepub.com/journals-permissions

DOI: 10.1177/0032885520956334

journals.sagepub.com/home/tpj

Article

The Use of the Crisis

Intervention Team (CIT)

Model for Corrections

Officers: Reducing

Incidents within a

County Jail

Erin B. Comartin1, Kendra Wells1,

Alana Zacharias1, and Sheryl Kubiak1

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.

Keywords

jail, mental illness, crisis intervention team, cell removal team

Introduction

In 2016, over 700,000 individuals were incarcerated at any given time, and

10.6 million admissions were recorded in US city or county jails

(Kang-Brown et al., 2018; Subramanian et al., 2015; Zeng, 2018). Statistics

1Wayne State University, Detroit, MI, USA

Corresponding Author:

Erin B. Comartin, Wayne State University, Center for Behavioral Health and Justice, School of

Social Work, 5447 Woodward Ave, Detroit, MI 48202, USA.

Email: at9766@wayne.edu

956334TPJXXX10.1177/0032885520956334The Prison JournalComartin et al.

research-article2020

582 The Prison Journal 100(5)

show that individuals with severe mental illness (SMI) are incarcerated at a

disproportionate rate when compared to the general population, and this pro-

portion has been steadily rising since the 1980s (Steadman et al., 2009; Vogel

et al., 2014; Zeng, 2018). This phenomenon can be attributed to a combina-

tion of factors, including lack of available emergency treatment due to the

deinstitutionalization of psychiatric facilities and a dearth of adequate com-

munity mental health support. As a result, there is increased interaction

between individuals with SMI and law enforcement officers (Lamb &

Weinberger, 2005), the majority of whom do not have sufficient training in

recognizing and reacting to signs and symptoms of psychological distress.

Thus, individuals with SMI are often incarcerated rather than directed to

treatment (Compton et al., 2014b; Lamb & Weinberger, 2005).

Correctional facilities have since become the primary care facility for

individuals with SMI, despite not being designed as such (Kerle, 2016; Lamb

& Weinberger, 2005; Torrey et al., 2010). Research demonstrates that indi-

viduals with no history of SMI are at increased risk for psychological distress

while incarcerated. Notably, individuals with a history of SMI experience

heightened symptoms and are at a greater risk for self-injurious behaviors in

carceral settings (DeHart et al., 2009; Dvoskin & Spiers, 2004; Steadman

et al., 2009; Vogel et al., 2014). These behaviors are often viewed as danger-

ous and non-compliant, increasing an individual’s likelihood of interacting

with a Cell Removal Team (CRT) that is deployed in crisis situations to

restrain or isolate an inmate (DeHart et al., 2009; Dvoskin & Spiers, 2004).

Although mental health professionals caution that these actions might worsen

symptoms of psychological distress, they are often perceived by correctional

staff to be necessary, as they lack other resources for assisting these individu-

als (Deiter et al., 2000; Subramanian, et al., 2015).

In response to the mishandling and unnecessary deaths of inmates with SMI

by law enforcement officers, a model called the Crisis Intervention Team (CIT)

was developed to teach officers how to identify signs of psychological distress

and strategies for interacting with individuals in this situation. CIT also con-

nects officers with community mental health supports so that individuals with

SMI can be diverted to treatment rather than incarcerated (Steadman &

Morrissette, 2016; Watson, et al., 2010). CIT programs have been conducted

with law enforcement officers in jurisdictions across the United States, and

research has demonstrated numerous positive outcomes (Bonfine et al., 2014;

Compton et al., 2008, Kubiak, et al., 2017; Comartin et al., 2019; Watson et al.,

2010). Advocates for CIT recognize the need to expand and specialize the

model for Correctional Officers (COs) (Kerle, 2016). However, no studies to

date have examined the effect of CIT in correctional settings. Thus, the current

study aims to address this gap. Various data sources are used to assess change