BUFFALO — Approximately 30 deputies and corrections officers assigned to specific housing areas of the Erie County Holding Center and Erie County Correctional Facility began training today to addressing inmates with mental illness.
The three-day training program at the Erie County Fire Training Center in Cheektowaga is presented by the Erie County Sheriff’s Office and Crisis Services. The correctional-based crisis intervention training program is uniquely designed to work within a correctional setting and educate officers about the signs and symptoms of mental illness, according to Erie County Sheriff Tim Howard. Coupled with the knowledge to detect the signs of mental illness is a training model that emphasizes de-escalation techniques and making use of support services to prevent explosive situations.
In addition to gaining familiarity with the signs and services, officers will broaden their comprehension of mental illness and substance abuse issues while increasing their comfort levels and preparedness when encountering inmates with signs of mental illness. Officers will learn to understand and recognize psychiatric signs and symptoms and learn proven tactics to calm and reassure inmates before a situation escalates into a larger and more violent problem.
“I have talked about the cut to mental health programs and facilities for some time now and warned of the financial impact on jail budgets and emotional toll it takes on Deputies and Corrections Officers,” Sheriff Howard said. “In Erie County, we cannot avoid the state and national trend of housing more mentally ill inmates or those with substance abuse issues in a jail setting, and I recognize the need for my officers to receive additional and enhanced training when dealing with mentally ill inmates.”
Specialists from the mental health community and family of mentally ill individuals will address such topics as:
- Using Empathy and Communication
- Barriers to Recovery
- Trauma
- Effective Communication
- Suicide Preventions
- De-escalation Techniques
- Applying Crisis Intervention Techniques in a Jail
National studies and local data demonstrate a growing success with the training and techniques in de-escalating situations and reducing injuries to jail personnel and inmates. The estimated cost of the three-day training program is $12,500 and is paid for by a grant from the Patrick Lee Foundation.
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