AJA Annual Conference & Jail Expo 2023

The equivant Corrections team is looking forward to seeing you at the American Jail Association’s 2023 Conference & Jail Expo in Omaha, Nebraska on May 20-24! Appropriately, some of the conference curricula is dedicated to mental health and resiliency—that of both correctional staff and inmates. It is a hot button industry issue and the changing attitudes towards mental health of inmates has been increasingly on my mind. I wanted to share some thoughts on the topic; I’d love to continue the conversation with you when you stop by Booth #933. Scroll down for a quick 5-question survey. After completing the survey, you will be automatically entered to win a Kentucky Bourbon Decanter Gift Set! More importantly, we will gather some important data that I will share post-conference.

Thoughts on the mental health crisis from the eyes of a former practitioner …

We know that individuals in prison and jails have a right to receive medical care, and this right pertains to serious mental illness, just as it pertains to physical diagnoses. In most regions, it is imperative that correctional officers receive mental health related training at least annually. This training often includes recognizing signs of mental illness in inmates as well as communication techniques. What this training often lacks is how to maintain control and communicate effectively with inmates experiencing a mental health crisis.

When I started my career in the mid 90’s, there was little talk about people experiencing mental illness. However, as the years went by, that changed – and it changed in a significant way. The problem continued to grow, but the response from the industry fell way behind.

We were taught to prioritize maintaining order and control for a safe facility. To completely change that mentality and, instead, learn how to properly communicate and work with an individual experiencing a mental health crisis is like setting the expectation to learn a foreign language overnight! While this process has most certainly begun, more time is needed. With limited staffing, training, and resources, we know you might be put in the line of fire without the right tools to tame the blaze.

Please help us gauge the status of your facility in regard to mental health training by answering the below questions. We’re looking forward to continuing the conversation at AJA!

Thank you so much for your participation,

– Greg Eash, Chief Operating Officer, equivant Corrections