MN Department of Corrections
Crisis Intervention Training Implementation
Warden Michelle Smith – MCF Stillwater
Patti Hecht- Kressly, President -Pro-Crisis LLC
Sgt. Glenn Lisowy – MCF- Oak Park Heights
CIT International
August 21, 2012
Las 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
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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
Facility CIT
Committees
Warden
NAMI
Employee Development
Behavioral Health
CIT “Expert”
Security Representative
Contractor
Associate Warden Operations
Mental Health Director
NAMI/Advocate
Additional 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
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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
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Medications
Suicide risk factors and prevention
Self Care
Role Play
• Day Three
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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
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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 Perspective
Sgt. Glenn Lisowy
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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
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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 - Warden
MCF-Stillwater
Michelle.smith@state.mn.us
Patti Kressly - President
Pro-Crisis
patti@procrisis.com
Glenn Lisowy- Sergeant
MCF-Oak Park Heights