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Recommendations for Implementation
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a.
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Test whether trainees have effectively learned the material presented.
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Some law enforcement, court, or corrections veterans may
participate reluctantly in a training session, confident that they have
"seen it before" or "done it all." Administering a pretest at the beginning of
the training session can challenge such beliefs. Immediate post-testing of course content is valuable as well, in
order to assess changes in attitudes and knowledge. It might be useful to conduct a third test, six months after the
training, to evaluate how training played out on the street, in case you need
to make adjustments. As a caution,
while testing is important it can be considered counterproductive if
participants think they have to memorize terminology. Tests should address information that will inform and improve
responses to people with mental illness in contact with the criminal justice
system.
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b.
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Ensure
that current national trends and facility-specific needs guide the training
agenda.
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New topics and recommendations for training are being
developed across the country on a continuing basis. Mental health training
curricula should be updated regularly in accordance with the best practices in
the field. Sources for current
information can be obtained from such organizations as the Center for Mental
Health Services (CMHS) of the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services
Administration (SAMHSA), the National GAINS Center, the American Correctional
Health Services Association (ACHSA), the American Psychiatric Association
(APA), and the National Commission on Correctional Health Care (NCCHC). Criminal justice training officials should
use the experts within the mental health community to evaluate current training
procedures.
Example:
NAMI Evaluation of National Institute of Corrections Training Programs
The National Institute of Corrections worked with
NAMI to evaluate National Institute of Corrections training for mental health
correctional teams from 22 different jurisdictions. NAMI provided feedback to the corrections training personnel in
charge of those training programs.
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c.
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Promote
workshops and seminars on mental illness at conferences and professional
associations.
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Most members of the criminal justice system attend
professional conferences and belong to professional associations. This includes law enforcement line and
staff, court officials, and corrections administrators and staff.
A number of organizations exist that provide training to
court officials, including the National Judicial College, National District
Attorneys Association, National Legal Aid and Defenders Association, National
Association of Pretrial Services Agencies, and the American Probation and
Parole Association, to name just a few.
Several organizations also provide training on topics for law
enforcement, including the Police Executive Research Forum (PERF), the Police
Foundation, the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP), the
National Organization of Black Law Enforcement (NOBLE), the Major Cities
Chiefs' Association (MCCA), and the National Sheriffs' Association (NSA). Organizations such as the Association of
State Correctional Administrators (ASCA), the National Institute of Corrections
(NIC), and the American Correctional Association (ACA) provide training geared
to corrections administrators.
Many of these organizations have been including sessions
on various aspects of working with individuals with mental illness at their
regular meetings. These organizations
should consider the recommendations contained in this document when planning
such sessions in the future.
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