What is the main goal of crisis intervention training for correctional officers?

Crisis intervention training for correctional officers primarily focuses on equipping them with the necessary skills to effectively manage and de-escalate potentially tense or volatile situations that may arise within correctional facilities. This training emphasizes communication techniques, understanding behavioral cues, and applying conflict resolution strategies, all of which are essential to maintaining safety in a correctional environment. By honing these skills, officers can not only mitigate immediate threats but also foster a more stable atmosphere, reducing the likelihood of incidents that could escalate to violence.

While preparing for legal proceedings is important, it is not the primary focus of crisis intervention training. Identifying mental health issues in inmates is certainly a valuable aspect of an officer's role but is not the overarching goal of crisis intervention, which is primarily about managing crises. Developing physical defense strategies is critical for overall officer safety, but crisis intervention training leans more toward the use of verbal and behavioral strategies rather than physical confrontations, reflecting the preference for de-escalation over force. Thus, the emphasis is on using communication and de-escalation techniques to handle incidents effectively and peacefully.