The criminal justice system often becomes the first point of contact for treatment of persons with mental illness. As such, professionals in the system must have strategies and processes for interacting ethically and safely with members of this population and for promoting the welfare of individuals with mental illness and the safety interests of the community. There are many programs that provide frameworks for working with this population. The crisis intervention team (CTI) or “Memphis Model” is considered one of the gold standards. It was developed in partnership with the Memphis Police Department and University of Memphis and is now promoted by the National Alliance on Mental Illness.

Explore the resources about the CIT model in this week’s Learning Resources.
Consider the value of such programs in our current criminal justice system.

The Assignment (2 pages)
Your submission should include the following:

An explanation of specific areas in which programs like CIT can benefit law enforcement and the communities they serve
An explanation of potential risks to people with mental illness, community members, and criminal justice professionals that could exist without commitment to such programs


                                            Learning Resources
Note: To access this week’s required library resources, please click on the link to the Course Readings List, found in the Course Materials section of your Syllabus.

Required Readings
Bell, V. R. (2014). Gender-responsive risk assessment in corrections. El Paso, TX: LFB Scholarly Publishing. 

Chapter 1, “The Importance of Risk Assessment” (pp. 1–22)
Chapter 2, “Risk Assessment Variables” (pp. 23–64)
Note: You will retrieve this book from the Walden Library databases.

 Winstone, J. (2016). Mental health, crime and criminal justice: Responses and reforms. New York, NY: Palgrave Macmillan. 

Chapter 3, “Troublesome Offenders, Undeserving Patients? The Precarious Rights of Mentally Disordered Offenders” (pp. 28–47)
 Mental health, crime and criminal justice: Responses and reforms by Winstone, J. Copyright 2016 by Palgrave Macmillan (UK)-Books. Reprinted by permission of Palgrave Macmillan (UK)-Books via the Copyright Clearance Center.

 Winstone, J. (2016). Mental health, crime and criminal justice: Responses and reforms. New York, NY: Palgrave Macmillan. 

Chapter 8, “‘It Made My Mind Unwell’: Trauma-Informed Approaches to the Mental Health Needs of Women in the Criminal Justice System” (pp. 131–146)
 Mental health, crime and criminal justice: Responses and reforms by Winstone, J. Copyright 2016 by Palgrave Macmillan (UK)-Books. Reprinted by permission of Palgrave Macmillan (UK)-Books via the Copyright Clearance Center.

 Winstone, J. (2016). Mental health, crime and criminal justice: Responses and reforms. New York, NY: Palgrave Macmillan. 

Chapter 13, “Successful Strategies for Working with Mentally-Disordered Offenders Within a Complex Multi-Agency Environment” (pp. 218–241)
 Mental health, crime and criminal justice: Responses and reforms by Winstone, J. Copyright 2016 by Palgrave Macmillan (UK)-Books. Reprinted by permission of Palgrave Macmillan (UK)-Books via the Copyright Clearance Center.

 Winstone, J. (2016). Mental health, crime and criminal justice: Responses and reforms. New York, NY: Palgrave Macmillan. 

Chapter 14, “Training to Improve Collaborative Practice: A Key Component of Strategy to Reduce Mental Ill Health in the Offender Population” (pp. 242–265)
 Mental health, crime and criminal justice: Responses and reforms by Winstone, J. Copyright 2016 by Palgrave Macmillan (UK)-Books. Reprinted by permission of Palgrave Macmillan (UK)-Books via the Copyright Clearance Center.

Chen, Y.-S., Lai, Y.-L., & Lin, C.-Y. (2013). Dimensions and predictors of treatment needs for female inmates: An exploratory study in Taiwan. International Journal of Comparative and Applied Criminal Justice, 37(2), 119–142. doi:10.1080/01924036.2012.760216

Note: Retrieved from the Walden Library databases.

Davis, M., Sheidow, A. J., & McCart, M. R. (2015). Reducing recidivism and symptoms in emerging adults with serious mental health conditions and justice system involvement. The Journal of Behavioral Health Services & Research, 42(2), 172–190. doi:10.1007/s11414-014-9425-8 

Note: Retrieved from the Walden Library databases.

Dyer, W. (2013). Criminal justice diversion and liaison services: A path to success? Social Policy and Society, 12(1), 31–45. doi:10.1017/S1474746412000188

Note: Retrieved from the Walden Library databases.

 National Alliance on Mental Illness. (2018). Crisis intervention team (CIT) programs. Retrieved from https://www.nami.org/Law-Enforcement-and-Mental-Health/What-Is-CIT

Required Media
 Cain, L., & Gross, D. (Producers). Healing Neen [Video file]. Ellicott City, MD: In the Hollow Films. 

Click this link to access this film.

 TEDx Talks. (2015, January 12). Mental health and criminal justice | Crystal Dieleman | TEDxMoncton [Video file]. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F1LIlKoxwjg