Safe Behind Bars: Communication, Control, and De-escalation of Mentally Ill and Aggressive Inmates

Inmates in correctional facilities suffering from psychiatric or substance abuse disorders sometimes display any one of a number of frightening behaviors: verbal outbursts, physical threats and even violence. This comprehensive guidebook offers correctional officers in jail settings strategies to keep themselves and inmates as safe as possible, while functioning at the highest level of professionalism. The first two sections of the book discuss the environment within jail and in the surrounding community that chronically mentally ill individuals cycle within. The third section is concerned with threat assessment: the authors offer concrete skills on the development of a safety mindset. In the fourth section, the authors focus on how to achieve a state of integrity and powerful calm. They offer specific strategies, including a method of breathing for the purpose of maintaining one's center in crisis situations. They then discuss specific behaviors ranging from confusion and obsessive concerns to psychosis, mania and acute disorganization. In one very important section, they discuss interactions with opportunistic and manipulative inmates, people who present a danger to the psychological and physical well-being of anyone with whom they come in contact. They then move on to a discussion of aggression, whether directed at the correctional officer or others. There is a specific section set aside on dealing with aggressive youthful offenders. The authors discuss how to de-escalate aggressive and chaotic inmates once a crisis is in play. De-escalation tactics are specific - one learns how to immediately recognize what mode of aggression other person is displaying, and the, one can quickly and effectively implement the de-escalation tactics that are best suited to deal with it. Finally, in a very important appendix written by Lieutenant Michael Paulus, there is a state-of-the-art protocol to prepare jail staff and management to deal with excited delirium cases.