Overview of training for corrections officers working with inmates who have a mental illness.

1. Corrections Officers working with Mentally Ill Offenders
Training Plan-Lesson Plan Outline
OVERVIEW OF THE
TRAINING PROGRAM
Introduction: Corrections Officers working with mentally ill offenders face many challenges.
Mentally Ill Offenders [MIO’s] are often disruptive, can be easy victims for predatory inmates
and are more self-destructive than most inmates. The MIO’s require not just more time from the
corrections officers schedules but also additional skills.
Part of the challenge MIO’s present to corrections officers is the conflict between treating all
inmates equally and responding to the special needs of an emotionally disturbed population.
The direct command and control approach that is so effective in working with inmates often
exacerbates the disruptive behavior of MIO’s.
CompetencyGoals and Objectives:
The competency for this training program is:
Corrections Officers will be able to identify the signs and symptoms of MIO’s and initiate
intervention strategies, based on the specific symptoms of those inmates, which will help
effectively manage the inmate’s behavior.
Goals and Objectives:
There are six training modules and an introduction and competency review that are part of this
training. Each of the modules has a set of goals and objectives that support the competency
stated above.
Support Materials:
This manual is a resource for trainers. Included in this set of resources is:
1] Lesson plans for each of the modules in the lesson plan.
2] A PowerPoint slide show with a complete set of slides for each of the manuals.
3] A Participant Manual
3] End of Course evaluation for the training
4] A cd disk of the training program.
Training Strategy:
1] Case Study Approach: The MIO Training Program is built around four case studies,
representing different types of MIO inmates that are often encountered in prisons. These four
case studies are used to help provide examples of how to apply information used in each of the
training modules.
2] Progressive Participant Involvement: The MIO Training Program contains a series of
participant learning exercises and activities that build on one another. These exercise start from
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2. Corrections Officers working with Mentally Ill Offenders
Training Plan-Lesson Plan Outline
simple tasks such as having participants as a group respond to a series of 5 multiple choice
questions to more complex tasks like identifying management and treatment interventions for
the case studies.
3] Competency Review: At the end of the MIO Training Program participants, as a group, are
asked to respond to a series of 20 questions relative to the management and treatment of MIO
inmates. This competency review is set up as an inter-group competition exercise and will help
both evaluate how well participants are able to meet the goals and objectives of the training and
reinforce key learning points in the program.
The MIO Training Program focuses on one specific skill. The intent of the program is that staff
will be able to better assess the needs of MIO’s and initiate the management and treatment
interventions available in their setting that will help minimize the disruptive behaviors.
Training Schedule:
Module Time Topic
Id. frame
MIO 0 30 min. Introductions and Advanced Organizer for the Training
Intro
MIO 60 min Legal Mandates and Responsibilities
Legal
Break 15 min.
MIO 45 min. Signs and Symptoms of Mental Illness
Signs &
Symptoms
MIO 3 60min Suicide Assessment and Intervention
Suicide
Intervention
SHU4 30 min. Medications and the SHU Inmate
Medications
Lunch 30 min
MIO 5 60 min. Communications Skills
Communications
Break 15 min
MIO 6 60 min. SHU Interventions
Interventions
MIO 7 60 min Competency Review
Competency
15 min Evaluation and Summary of Training
Materials Needed
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3. Corrections Officers working with Mentally Ill Offenders
Training Plan-Lesson Plan Outline
Hardware and Software: The MIO program uses both a series of PowerPoint presentations and
a reference manual for participants.
Case Studies: The 4 case studies are integral to this program. It is advisable that there are
sufficient hard copies of the case studies to hand out to learners.
Flip Charts and Marker- There are several exercises where facilitators and participants will need
to write out responses for the group. At least one flip chart with pad, masking tape and markers
are needed.
Score Sheets- The score sheets are used at the end of the training program. They are simply
sheets of paper torn in half. Each small workgroup will need 10 score sheets.
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