This topic gets me fired up.
I often hear people say, “Jail is not a place for the mentally ill.”
That statement is 100% true—but it misses the real issue.
The problem isn’t that people with mental illness are in jail.
The problem is how they get there.
Nothing becomes a priority in our systems until it turns into a crisis. Long before someone reaches a jail intake, there were warning signs—missed appointments, untreated symptoms, escalating behavior, and a lack of meaningful access to care. Over time, those gaps lead to arrests, then more arrests, and eventually to serious offenses where release is no longer possible. It should never get to that point—but too often, it does.
This cycle is not the exception. It’s the rule.
Jails Inherit All the Risk—Whether We’re Ready or Not
Here’s the truth that matters most for custody leaders:
We have no control over what comes in the front door—but we have all of the risk and responsibility once it does.
Jails across the country have become the de facto mental health system. Not because that was the plan, but because community-based care is limited, fragmented, and often only available once someone is already in crisis. As a result, people frequently arrive at jail with untreated mental illness, substance use disorders, trauma histories, or all three—often compounded by chronic health conditions
The jail environment is essentially “ground zero,” where elevated risks converge: medical emergencies, self-harm, use-of-force incidents, staff injuries, and liability exposure. Custody leaders are expected to manage all of this—often without adequate staffing or resources.
Why CIT Training Matters Inside the Jail
Crisis Intervention Team training is often associated with patrol and community response, but it is just as critical—if not more so—inside jails.
Custody staff are the eyes and ears of the facility. They are usually the first to notice behavioral changes, decompensation, withdrawal, or emerging mental health crises. How staff respond in those first moments can determine whether a situation stabilizes or escalates.
CIT training gives officers the knowledge, skills, and confidence to:
- Recognize psychiatric distress early
- Use verbal de-escalation instead of force whenever possible
- Communicate effectively with medical and mental health staff
- Reduce injuries to staff and people in custody
When implemented well, CIT training doesn’t just improve outcomes—it makes facilities safer and more manageable for everyone
Leadership Means Acting Before the Headline
CIT training is not a cure-all for a broken system—but it is a practical, proven step custody leaders can take right now. It helps shift the response from reactive to proactive, from force-driven to care-informed, and from crisis management to risk reduction.
The Bottom Line
Jails didn’t create the mental health crisis—but we inherit it every day. With that reality comes responsibility.
CIT training is not optional. It’s not a luxury.
It’s a leadership decision—one that protects staff, reduces harm, and helps fulfill our constitutional duty to those in our care.
And after decades in this field, I can say this with certainty:
We can do better—and we have to.
Read more about CIT Training in American Jails magazine.
By Richard Forbus, MBA-HCN, CCHP-A
NCCHC Vice President of Program Development
NCCHC Resources can help you with CIT Training. Contact us at info@nccchcresources.org or set up a time to talk to Rich.