Crisis Negotiation Team

Idaho
Department of
Correction

Standard
Operating
Procedure
Title:
Crisis Negotiation Team

Page:
1 of 9

Control Number:
112.02.01.004
Version:
3.0
Adopted:
09-01-1995

IDOC Data Sensitivity Classification - L3 Restricted
Jeffery Zmuda, division chief, approved this document on 07/13/2015.
Open to the public: Yes
SCOPE
This standard operating procedure (SOP) applies to all staff members involved with
membership, supervision, or activation of crisis negotiation teams (CNTs).
Revision History
Revision date 07/13/2015 version 3.0: This document replaces Crisis Negotiation, SOP
507.02.01.005. Substantial changes made to the document.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Policy Control Number 112................................................................................................... 1
Purpose ................................................................................................................................ 2
Responsibility ....................................................................................................................... 2
Standard Procedures ........................................................................................................... 4
1. Crisis Negotiation Team Mission Statement ................................................................... 4
2. Regional CNT Structure ................................................................................................. 4
3. CNT Membership Criteria, Recruitment, and Selection ................................................... 4
4. CNT Uniforms and Equipment ........................................................................................ 6
5. Training .......................................................................................................................... 7
6. CNT Activation ............................................................................................................... 7
7. Reports ........................................................................................................................... 8
8. Documentation ............................................................................................................... 8
9. Audit Protocol ................................................................................................................. 9
10. CNT Retention ................................................................................................................ 9
Definitions ............................................................................................................................ 9
References ........................................................................................................................... 9
POLICY CONTROL NUMBER 112
Emergency Response and Specialty Teams
Control Number:
112.02.01.004
Version:
3.0
Title:
Crisis Negotiation Team
Page Number:
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Idaho Department of Correction
IDOC Data Sensitivity Classification - L3 Restricted
PURPOSE
This standard operating procedure establishes standards, training requirements, chain-of-
command, equipment standards, oversight responsibility, and individual and team
responsibilities for crisis negotiation teams.
RESPONSIBILITY
Division Deputy Chiefs
The division of prisons deputy chiefs, in conjunction with the division of probation and
parole leadership are responsible for:
• Appointing a CNT leader for each region of the state
• Appointing a division of prisons emergency coordinator (emergency coordinator)
• Providing oversight of all CNT elements
• Selecting CNT members
Division of Prisons Emergency Coordinator
Hereafter emergency coordinator means the division of prisons emergency coordinator.
References to facility emergency coordinators are specific to that position.
The emergency coordinator is responsible for:
• Meeting with regional CNT leaders semiannually to discuss CNT-related issues
• Monitoring CNT development, training, and readiness
Facility Heads and District Managers
Facility heads and district managers are responsible for implementing this SOP and
ensuring that staff members follow the guidelines contained herein.
Regional CNT Leader
The regional CNT leaders are responsible for the following:
• Appointing an assistant CNT leader (the applicable regional facility head must also
approve the appointment)
• Completing the Idaho Peace Officers Standards and Training (POST) instructor
development course and required refresher courses
• Coordinating with the emergency coordinator on training issues and CNT
development
• Directing all CNT training activities and actual operations
• Ensuring after-action reports are completed and submitted to the facility head or
district manager and the emergency coordinator when the CNT was activated during
an incident
• Ensuring that CNT members are trained and capable of carrying out assigned tasks
with minimal supervision
• Ensuring the CNT remains in a high state of morale and operational readiness
• Establishing coordination instructions for responding CNT members
• Maintaining CNT members’ individual CNT files
Control Number:
112.02.01.004
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Title:
Crisis Negotiation Team
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Idaho Department of Correction
IDOC Data Sensitivity Classification - L3 Restricted
• Managing CNT individual and team equipment and reporting to the emergency
coordinator any loss or damaged items, including replacement needs based on
normal usage
• Monitoring performance of assigned CNT members during CNT activities
• Sending an updated list of CNT members to the emergency coordinator and to the
affected facility heads and/or district managers when changes occur
• When the CNT is activated, coordinating CNT activities in accordance with the
incident commander's (or the facility operations section leader’s) instructions
Assistant CNT Leader
The assistant CNT leader is responsible for:
• Appointing and overseeing the quartermaster
• Assisting the regional CNT leader in all activities pertaining to the CNT
• Assuming command of the CNT in the absence of the regional CNT leader
• Being accountable to the regional CNT leader
• Completing the Idaho POST instructor development course and required refresher
courses
• Documenting training attendance
• Serving as a resource to the regional CNT leader during actual deployment
Quartermaster
The quartermaster is responsible for:
• Being accountable to the regional CNT leader and assistant CNT leader
• If a change in CNT membership occurs (including a change in contact information),
updating and distributing within one working day a current CNT roster to the regional
CNT leader, facility duty officers, control centers, facility emergency coordinator, and
emergency coordinator
• Maintaining applicable records, inventories
• Maintaining, issuing, and returning individual and CNT equipment
• Providing the regional CNT leader and the facility emergency coordinator with a
complete inventory of individual and CNT equipment each quarter (to be submitted
with the regional CNT leader's quarterly report)
CNT Members
When responding to CNT activation, CNT members are responsible for:
• If reporting when off-duty, following all state and local traffic laws
• Immediately reporting to their regional CNT leader
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112.02.01.004
Version:
3.0
Title:
Crisis Negotiation Team
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Idaho Department of Correction
IDOC Data Sensitivity Classification - L3 Restricted
STANDARD PROCEDURES
1. Crisis Negotiation Team Mission Statement
The mission of the CNT is to open lines of communication, acquire information, and restore
calm in the attempt to achieve a peaceful resolution of an incident.
CNT is composed of trained staff members whose primary role is to assist in the resolution
of crises through negotiations.
2. Regional CNT Structure
Each facility and district within a region is given opportunities to have staff on the CNT, as
positions are available. The goal is that each facility in the region has staff representation on
the regional CNT.
Facility heads at the following facilities are responsible for establishing and maintaining
CNTs:
• Idaho State Correctional Institution (ISCI) – southern Idaho region
• Idaho Correctional Institution-Orofino (ICIO) – northern Idaho region
• Pocatello Women's Correctional Center (PWCC) – eastern Idaho region
Regional CNTs have the following number of staff:
• Southern Idaho region: 13
• Northern Idaho region: 12
• Eastern Idaho region: 6
3. CNT Membership Criteria, Recruitment, and Selection
CNT Membership Criteria
CNT applicants must meet the following criteria:
• Temporary employees and employees on entrance probation are not eligible for CNT
membership.
• Employees must not have any formal disciplinary action (see Corrective and
Disciplinary Action, SOP 205.07.01.001) pending or within the last 12 months.
• Employees cannot be a team member nor have primary role on any other
emergency response team.
• Employee’s most recent performance review (see Performance Management, SOP
222.07.01.001) must be achieves performance standards (APS) or higher.
Recruitment and Selection Procedures
A selection interview panel is normally composed of:
• The applicable regional CNT leader
• A deputy warden (or second-in-command) from a regional facility
• The emergency coordinator (normally serves as chair of the panel)
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Idaho Department of Correction
IDOC Data Sensitivity Classification - L3 Restricted
When needed, recruit and select new CNT members using the process in this section.
New members can be added 90 days before a CNT academy or similar IDOC-approved
training. Before the academy, new members can attend CNT trainings and meetings.
New CNT members receive incentive pay after successful completion of the CNT
academy or similar approved training. If a new CNT member has not attended, within 90
days, a CNT academy or similar training the emergency coordinator has approved, the
regional CNT leader must contact the division chief regarding incentive pay.
The division of prisons chief or designee must approve any exceptions to this process.
Use the following steps to recruit and select CNT members.
Functional Roles and
Responsibilities Step Tasks
Emergency
Coordinator 1
Notify the affected facilities and the probation and parole
division that new CNT members are needed and provide an
announcement that contains the following:
• Date of the negotiation team new member academy
or orientation
• Deadline for application submission
• CNT membership criteria described in this section
Facility Heads and/or
District Managers 2
Within three working days:
• Post the announcement (email, physically post,
photocopies, etc.).
• Inform those staff members who wish to apply to
complete a Specialty Team Application.
CNT Applicants 3 Complete a Specialty Team Application and submit it to the
facility head.
Facility Head or
District Manager 4
• Collect, screen, and comment regarding the applicants
to be interviewed.
• Forward the applications you are recommending for
consideration to the applicable regional CNT regional
leader. (Notify the staff you are not recommending.)
Regional CNT Leader 5
In conjunction with facility management team and the
emergency coordinator:
• Develop interview questions.
• Select an interview panel.
• Arrange interviews with applicants.
Interview Panel 6
• Review the applications to ensure the individuals meet
the minimum qualifications (deny applicants that do not
meet the minimum qualifications at this point, unless the
facility head has requested an exception).
• Conduct the interviews and submit recommendations to
the applicable division deputy chief (or designee).
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Idaho Department of Correction
IDOC Data Sensitivity Classification - L3 Restricted
Division Deputy
Chiefs or Designees 7
• Review the recommendations.
• Select CNT members.
• Forward the completed applications to the emergency
coordinator.
Emergency
Coordinator 8
• Scan each application.
• Email the scanned copies to the applicable regional CNT
leader.
• File the applications with original signatures in the
division of prisons administration area.
Regional CNT Leader 9
Notify the applicants of their selection or non-selection.
File the photocopy of the application in each applicant’s
CNT personnel file.
4. CNT Uniforms and Equipment
CNT members are responsible for all issued equipment, ensuring that their equipment is in a
constant state of readiness, and advising the quartermaster of damaged or lost items.
Each of the following facilities maintains a rescue phone system, individual and CNT
equipment, and office supplies for training and actual activations:
• ISCI – southern Idaho region
• ICIO – northern Idaho region
• PWCC – eastern Idaho region
Individual Uniform and Equipment
Facility heads (or designees) are responsible for purchasing and issuing the following
individual items:
• Green Shirt–may be long or short sleeved, or polo with the word ‘NEGOTIATOR’
on the back in large white capital letters
• Khaki pants
• Black duty/ready bag–this bag should be maintained with the items needed to
immediately report for a minimum of a 48 hour deployment
• Pager (where available)
Crisis Negotiation Team Equipment
Facility heads (or designees) are responsible for purchasing and maintaining the
following CNT equipment:
• Rescue phone
• Video monitor
• Tactical microphone and earpiece – two each
• Post-It type flipchart size notepads – two each
• Ready bag – office supplies (pencils, paper, etc.)
Control Number:
112.02.01.004
Version:
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Title:
Crisis Negotiation Team
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Idaho Department of Correction
IDOC Data Sensitivity Classification - L3 Restricted
5. Training
CNTs train for worst-case scenarios; however, safety is never compromised for realism.
CNT training is designed to develop a high level of individual and team technical skills and
competence to provide a prompt, effective, and professional response to crises.
CNTs must receive a minimum of 96 hours of annual training. Regional CNT leaders and the
emergency coordinator are responsible to establish an annual training agenda (by July 1 of
each year), which includes:
• The Incident Command System for Corrections (ICS)
• Use of all CNT equipment
• Sixteen hours of joint correctional emergency response team and CNT training
CNT Academy
Based on need, the IDOC may conduct an annual CNT academy, which new CNT
members are required to attend. The emergency coordinator oversees the development
of lesson plans for the academy and obtains approval of the lesson plans from the
division chief or designee. The division chief or designee can approve training outside
the department in lieu of a department-sponsored academy.
Attendance and Participation
CNT members must attend and participate in all aspects of training and practice. An
approved absence from training or practice requires approval from the regional CNT
leader. If a CNT member fails to attend training or practice, the regional CNT leader and
emergency coordinator may conduct a status review of the individual’s participation on
CNT and consult with the facility head or district manager as needed.
Cancellations
To cancel scheduled training a division of prisons deputy chief approval is required.
Training should be rescheduled to ensure annual training requirements are met.
6. CNT Activation
The incident commander or an individual in the affected facility's chain of command (such as
a facility head or district manager) is authorized to activate a CNT. The incident commander
or designee is the controlling authority of the CNT during an incident. Incident commanders
or designees must consider using the CNT in the following situations:
• Hostage
• Barricaded suspect
• Suicidal suspect
• Disturbances
The following procedure is used when activating a CNT.
Functional Roles and
Responsibilities Step Tasks
Incident Commander
or Designee 1
• Contact the applicable regional CNT leader or assistant
CNT leader.
• Brief him on the situation.
• Initiate a recall of off-duty CNT members.
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112.02.01.004
Version:
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Title:
Crisis Negotiation Team
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Idaho Department of Correction
IDOC Data Sensitivity Classification - L3 Restricted
Functional Roles and
Responsibilities Step Tasks
• When reasonably safe to do so, relieve all on-duty CNT
members.
Regional CNT Leader
or Assistant CNT
Leader 2
• Assemble, equip, and prepare arriving CNT members.
• Notify the incident commander or designee when the
CNT is ready for deployment.
Incident Commander
or Designee 3
• Deploy the CNT in accordance with emergency
protocols.
• If necessary, develop a 12-hour relief schedule in
conjunction with the regional CNT.
Regional CNT Leader 4
• At the end of each operational period (typically a 12-
hour shift) or at the end of the incident, ensure that all
CNT members complete Information Report in
accordance with General Reporting and Investigation of
Major Incidents SOP 105.02.01.001.
• Collect the reports and place them in the information
packet (see section 7).
Incident Commander
or Designee 5 At the end of the incident, conduct a formal debriefing with
all CNT members and personnel.
7. Reports
After the action, all CNT personnel must complete an Information Report and present them
to the CNT regional leader or designee before exiting the facility.
The CNT regional leader must conduct a formal debriefing with all CNT personnel at the
completion of the incident.
The CNT regional leader or designee must complete a CERT After-action Report and
compile an information packet that contains the following.
• Information Reports
• Specialty Team After-action Report
Within 72 hours for the completion of the incident, the CNT regional leader or designee
forwards the information packet to the incident commander. The incident commander
forwards the packet to the following staff in the following order:
1. Facility Head
2. Emergency Coordinator
3. Deputy Chief
4. Chief
8. Documentation
The regional CNT leader maintains a file for each CNT member in the region. The file
contains a copy of the individual’s approved CNT application, training records, certificates,
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Title:
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Idaho Department of Correction
IDOC Data Sensitivity Classification - L3 Restricted
and other information or documentation relevant to CNT duties. The file must be maintained
in a secured file cabinet or locked office.
9. Audit Protocol
The emergency coordinator develops audit protocol and schedules, and oversees annual
audits of all CNTs.
10. CNT Retention
Applying for and continued participation on the CNT is voluntary.
CNT members serve at the discretion of the applicable division chief or designees. The
regional CNT leaders retain the responsibility to remove personnel from active membership,
upon approval of the emergency coordinator, in consultation with the facility head or district
manager, for performance issues or inappropriate conduct.
DEFINITIONS
None
REFERENCES
Information Report
CERT After-action Report
Specialty Team Application
Federal Bureau of Investigation, Crisis Negotiation Unit
National Council of Negotiation Associations (NCNA)
South Carolina Crisis Negotiators Association (SCCNA)
Standard Operating Procedure 105.02.01.001, General Reporting and Investigation of Major
Incidents
Standard Operating Procedure 205.07.01.001, Corrective and Disciplinary Action
Standard Operating Procedure 206.07.01.001, Attendance and Hours of Work
Standard Operating Procedure 206.07.01.002, Paid Leaves
Standard Operating Procedure 222.07.01.001, Performance Management
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