Missouri Department of Corrections CIT Program
The Missouri Department of Corrections won the Governor's Award for Innovation.
Click here to see the announcement.
Utilizing Crisis Intervention Teams in Prison to Improve Officer Knowledge, Stigmatizing Attitudes, and Perception
of Response Options. Click here to read the article.
Crisis Intervention Teams: A Frontline
Response to Mental Illness in Corrections
As community mental health resources shrink and mentally ill inmates increase, America’s jails and prisons are becoming the nation’s de facto mental institutions. The impact on resources is dramatic, but the human toll is staggering: Offenders with mental illness have higher rates of suicide, serve longer sentences and receive more restrictive housing time on average, and experience more physical and sexual victimization than their peers. Using community CIT as a foundation, corrections-based CIT tailors the Memphis Model to the unique service-delivery, personnel, and security needs of correctional settings.
CIT in Jails and Prisons
CIT has been successfully adapted to correctional settings with full fidelity to existing goals and core elements of community-based CIT. Correctional enhancements include:
-
Supporting inmate mental health through emphasizing jail and prison service delivery as an important link in continuity of care, including a focus on reentry services and discharge planning upon release.
-
Focusing on improving mental health outcomes and institutional adjustment for mentally ill offenders during incarceration.
-
Maintaining staff and offender safety and institutional security through reduced uses of force and other physical interventions.
-
Classroom modules and role-play scenarios specific to jails and prisons.
Missouri Department of Corrections CIT Program
National Institute of Corrections (NIC, U.S. Dept. of Justice) developed a model training, evaluation, and support effort to help implement corrections-based CIT programs in jurisdictions across the country. MODOC was one of five teams from state and local jurisdictions completing this initial training in January 2013. The department then began developing its own CIT program, writing policy and curriculum, and recruiting external team members.
NIC then facilitated a 40-hour pilot training with MODOC Training Academy in August 2015. Based on this pilot, the department finalized its curriculum, steering and development committees, and plans for statewide rollout. The first department-led training was completed in April 2016, with twice-yearly 40-hour training sessions at each of the department’s three regional training centers beginning in fall 2016. When fully in place, approximately 150-200 officers will be CIT certified annually.
Training:
2021
Central Region | 1717 Industrial Drive Jefferson City, MO 65109 | 573.522.6807
January 18-22, April 26-30, July 19-23, October 4-8, 2021
Eastern Region | 901 Progress Dr. #101 Farmington, MO 63640 | 573.218.6171
February 22-26, May 17-21, August 2-6, November 8-12, 2021
Western Region | 902 Edmond St. #300 St. Joseph, MO 64501 | 816.271.3118
March 8-12, June 21-25, August 30-September 3, December 6-10, 2021
Central Region | 1717 Industrial Drive Jefferson City, MO 65109 | 573.522.6807
January 10-14, April 4-8, July 11-15, October 3-7, 2022
Eastern Region | 901 Progress Dr. #101 Farmington, MO 63640 | 573.218.6171
February 14-18, May 9-13, August 1-5, November 7-11, 2022
Western Region | 902 Edmond St. #300 St. Joseph, MO 64501 | 816.271.3118
March 14-18, June 6-10, September 12-16, December 12-16, 202
For Additional Information or to sign up for a training contact: Coordinator Stephanie Tandarich | Stephanie.Tandarich@doc.mo.gov