CRISIS INTERVENTION TEAMS AND RESPONSES TO MENTAL HEALTH AND SUBSTANCE ABUSE CRISES

Part II: Responding to Mental Health and Substance Abuse Crises

• Read the following case studies and select one to respond to for this Assignment.

Case Study 1: Crisis in the Context of Policing

As a police officer, you respond to a call involving shoplifting and property damage at a large retail store. After speaking with the security officer onsite, you learn that a 22-year-old woman attempted to shoplift several smartphones. When confronted by the security officer, the woman became enraged and knocked over several TVs that were on display. The security officer directs you to the room where the woman is waiting. Immediately, you notice that the woman is sweating profusely and has bloodshot eyes. After interviewing the woman for a few minutes, you learn that she is addicted to opioids and is currently suffering from withdrawal symptoms. She explains that she attempted to shoplift to get her next “fix.” She also indicates that she is 5 months pregnant and suffers from bipolar disorder. By the end of the interview, she becomes much more agitated and complains of chills and stomach pains.

Case Study 2: Crisis in the Context of Prisons

You are a correctional officer at a maximum-security prison. You arrive to work one morning and learn that one of the inmates, John, has been denied a request to attend the funeral for his recently deceased mother. After learning of the decision, John begins sobbing uncontrollably and then attacks his cell mate after he makes a derogatory remark about John’s mother. John is placed in solitary confinement. Two weeks later, you notice that he is back in his cell. You approach the cell and see that John is mumbling incoherently, rocking back and forth, and staring off into the distance. You attempt to speak with John for a few minutes, but he is unresponsive. His cell mate reports that John “has been like this all day.”

Case Study 3: Crisis in the Context of Probation

You are a probation officer working with an offender named Isabel, who has been diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia. Isabel is on probation for setting fire to her neighbor’s townhouse. A few months prior to setting the fire, Isabel had been suffering from delusions that her neighbor had implanted listening devices in the shared wall between the two townhouses. In the days leading up to the fire, Isabel began hearing voices that repeatedly told her to set fire to her neighbor’s house. Fortunately, the fire department arrived before the fire got out of control and there were no fatalities. After the fire, Isabel was evicted from the townhouse and moved to a nearby apartment complex.

Isabel has just arrived for her third meeting with you. As you approach Isabel, you notice that she appears disheveled and refuses to make eye contact with you. During the first few minutes of your meeting, you also notice that she is visibly agitated, cannot sit still, and is having difficulty answering simple questions. Upon further questioning, Isabel reveals that she believes the maintenance employee who works in her apartment building is entering her apartment at night and implanting listening devices in her electronics. She stays awake for days at a time and meticulously tracks the movement of the employee. As she continues to speak, Isabel says she fears for her safety and will do “whatever it takes” to prevent the employee from hurting her.

• After reading the case studies, identify the case study you selected. Explain how you would respond as a criminal justice professional using specific crisis intervention models, skills, and strategies. (350–500 words)
• Draw upon examples from the case study and Learning Resources to support your response.