The document summarizes Chapter 1 of the book "Crisis Intervention: The Criminal Justice Response to Chaos, Mayhem, and Disaster" by William Harmening. It defines crisis as an event that causes internal and external systems of control to become stressed, requiring third-party intervention. It discusses classifying crises based on their potential impact, the history of crisis intervention in America from the 1700s to today, and the five steps of modern crisis intervention: response, containment, de-escalation, remediation, and prevention.

1. © 2013 by Pearson Higher Education, Inc
Upper Saddle River, New Jersey 07458 • All Rights Reserved
Crisis Intervention
William Harmening
Roosevelt University
Harmening, Crisis Intervention: The Criminal Justice Response to Chaos, Mayhem, and Disaster
Chapter 1
THE PROBLEM OF CRISIS

2. © 2013 by Pearson Higher Education, Inc
Upper Saddle River, New Jersey 07458 • All Rights Reserved
1.1
1.2
1.3
1.4
To define the phenomenon of crisis in the context of the criminal justice
mission in America.
To explain the author’s four-level scheme for classifying crisis, and why
classification is important.
To summarize the history of crisis intervention in America from Colonial
times to the present day.
To define the five steps of crisis intervention, and to understand the
importance of each step.
CHAPTER OBJECTIVES

3. Understand the phenomenon of crisis in the
context of the criminal justice mission in
America.
Learning Objectives
After this lecture, you should be able to complete the following Learning Outcomes
1.1

4. 4
1.1 Defining Crisis
Hurricane Katrina – The Perfect Storm
August 29, 2005
Hurricane Katrina, and its aftermath, represents one of
the saddest days in the history of American disaster
response. The combined efforts of Federal, State, and
Local agencies failed the people of New Orleans. The
cost?
1800 dead
400,000 homeless
$80 billion in damage - The costliest disaster in U.S.
history

5. 5
1.1 Defining Crisis
Hurricane Katrina – The Perfect Storm
August 29, 2005
“We were abandoned. City officials did nothing to protect us. We were told
to go to the Superdome, the Convention Center, the Interstate Bridge for
safety. We did this more than once. In fact, we tried them all every day for
over a week. We saw buses, helicopters, and FEMA trucks, but no one
stopped to help us. We never felt so cut off in all our lives. When you feel
like this you do one of two things, you either give up or go into survival
mode. We chose the latter. This is how we made it. We slept next to dead
bodies, we slept on streets at least four times next to human feces and
urine. There was garbage everywhere in the city. Panic and fear had taken
over.”
Patricia Thompson
New Orleans Citizen and Evacuee
Select Committee Hearing
December 6, 2005

6. 6
1.1 Defining Crisis
Hurricane Katrina – The Perfect Storm
August 29, 2005
The Katrina disaster provides a perfect, albeit sad,
example of the absolute necessity for systems, plans,
and protocols to be in place and ready to implement
following such an event.
CONTAINMENT + DE-ESCALATION = LIVES SAVED AND
PROPERTY PROTECTED

7. 7
1.1 Defining Crisis
WHAT IS CRISIS?
Any event in which our systems of control, both internal and
external, become stressed to the point of dysfunction,
requiring third-party intervention to regain control and
return those systems to a state of equilibrium.
Two common themes to all crises…
A LOSS OF EQUILIBRIUM
THE NEED FOR INTERVENTION

8. 8
1.1 Defining Crisis
WHAT IS CRISIS?
INTERNAL SYSTEMS OF CONTROL
Systems of control that include primarily
our cognitive and emotional coping
mechanisms. These systems are
biopsychosocial in nature, and specific to
the individual.
EXTERNAL SYSTEMS OF CONTROL
Systems of control designed to maintain
public order. This would include the
police and other emergency responders,
as well as public service and
governmental agencies.
EQUILIBRIUM

9. 9
1.1 Defining Crisis
THE GOAL OF CRISIS RESPONDERS
RESPOND
CONTAIN
DE-ESCALATE

10. Understand the author’s four-level
classification scheme for crisis, and why
classification is important.
Learning Objectives
After this lecture, you should be able to complete the following Learning Outcomes
1.2

11. 11
1.2 Defining Crisis
Bronfenbrenner’s Ecological Model
Bronfenbrenner looked at child development as
occurring through the interconnected influence
of different systems.
Example: A young child’s relationship with their
father may be adversely effected by the amount
of stress the father experiences at work. High
stress impacts the father’s ability to be a
responsive parent to the child. In this case the
child’s Exosystem (the father’s work) is
impacting their Microsystem (paret-child
relationship).

12. 12
1.2 Defining Crisis
Bronfenbrenner’s Ecological Model
The impact of external systems moves inward
to effect the development of the child.
In similar fashion, the impact of crisis, unless
contained, can move outward from the point of
crisis to effect many other interconnected
systems. Thus, containment becomes one of the
primary goals of those who respond to crisis.

13. 13
1.2 Classifying Crisis
CLASSIFYING CRISIS
Macrocrisis
Exocrisis
Mesocrisis
Microcrisis
We can classify crisis along four different
dimensions depending on the potential for the
crisis event to impact other systems.

14. 14
1.2 Classifying Crisis
CLASSIFYING CRISIS
Macrocrisis
Exocrisis
Mesocrisis
Microcrisis
The Microcrisis: A crisis that at its outset is
limited to a single individual or family and their
immediate environment. There is little chance
for such a crisis to spread to other systems.
EXAMPLE: A domestic dispute or a threatened
suicide. Containment and de-escalation require
limited resources, typically just the first
responders.

15. 15
1.2 Classifying Crisis
CLASSIFYING CRISIS
Macrocrisis
Exocrisis
Mesocrisis
Microcrisis
The Mesocrisis: A crisis involving multiple
systems within a confined area that runs the
risk of spreading unless contained. May require
significant resources.
EXAMPLE: A school shooting such as the one at
Columbine High School in 1999. Had the crisis
not been contained, and the two shooters
escaped, then their murder spree may have
spread to other targets in other locations.

16. 16
1.2 Classifying Crisis
CLASSIFYING CRISIS
Macrocrisis
Exocrisis
Mesocrisis
Microcrisis
The Exocrisis: A crisis involving multiple systems
within a particular region, including the
potential to impact systems far removed from
the actual crisis. Containment is critical to avoid
further spreading.
EXAMPLE: The LA riots of 1990. Unless
contained, both physically and in terms of
public sentiment, riots could have broken out in
other geographic areas. Also, worsening riots
could have caused a more severe economic
drain on the city, which in term would have
caused further crises in other areas and
systems.

17. 17
1.2 Classifying Crisis
CLASSIFYING CRISIS
Macrocrisis
Exocrisis
Mesocrisis
Microcrisis
The Macrocrisis: Whereas an exocrisis is limited
a particular region, the Macrocrisis has the
potential to spread to systems in other regions,
or even around the world, unless contained.
EXAMPLE: The terrorist attacks on 9/11/01. The
event sparked a chain reaction of crises around
the world. Containment was attempted on
many different levels as systems far removed
from the actual event became impacted.
Hurricane Katrina would also be considered a
macrocrisis.

18. 18
1.2 Classifying Crisis
CLASSIFYING CRISIS
Macrocrisis
Exocrisis
Mesocrisis
Microcrisis
A classification scheme does the following:
1. Facilitates effective planning and preparation
by guiding the anticipated need, commitment,
and positioning of resources.
2. Provides a conceptual framework within
which crisis can be understood and studied in
relative terms, such as we do with hurricanes.
3. Guides the development of public policy and
protocols, and may serve as a funding guide.

19. Become familiar with the history of crisis
intervention in America from Colonial times
to the present day.
Learning Objectives
After this lecture, you should be able to complete the following Learning Outcomes
1.3

20. 20
1.3 History of Crisis Intervention
The Whiskey Rebellion of 1794
The beginning of crisis intervention in America. President George Washington
mobilized a force of 13,000 militia to quell an uprising in western
Pennsylvania by farmers upset with newly imposed whiskey tariffs.
The episode marked the first use of the Militia Law of 1792, which gave the
federal government the right to suppress insurrections with federalized
troops, and the first use of military force to contain and de-escalate a major
crisis.
Washington’s intervention brought a quick and peaceful end to the crisis.

21. 21
1.3 History of Crisis Intervention
Sir Robert Peel
The Birth of Modern Policing - 1829
Established the first modern police department, the London Metropolitan
Police Dept., to respond to crime and disorder without resorting to military
force.
The use of routine patrol to proactively address the problem of crime and
victimization. One of the first preventative measures in the history of crisis
intervention.
This model led to the establishment of police departments in Boston (1838),
New York City (1844), and Philadelphia (1854). Crisis intervention had now
moved from the responsibility of the military to civilian authorities.

22. 22
1.3 History of Crisis Intervention
The American Red Cross
Established in 1881 by Clara Barton to respond to disaster, war, and public
disorder.
Primary goal was remediation - alleviating the suffering of the victims of crisis
by providing food, clothing, shelter, and medical care.
Responded to their first disaster in 1881 by assisting relief efforts for victims of
a deadly Michigan forest fire.
In 1896 began their international mission in Constantinople, bringing relief to
Armenian victims of Turkish oppression.
Responsible for moving crisis intervention into the domain of volunteerism.

23. 23
1.3 History of Crisis Intervention
Federal Emergency Management Agency
Established by President Jimmy Carter in 1979
Allowed for the merger of many of the nearly 100 federal agencies
involved in crisis response.
This new agency placed much emphasis not only on response,
containment, and de-escalation, but also on remediation and
prevention (preparedness).

24. Understand the five steps of crisis
intervention.
Learning Objectives
After this lecture, you should be able to complete the following Learning Outcomes
1.4

25. 25
1.4 The Intervention Process
The Five Steps of Crisis Intervention
Crisis
Intervention
Response
Containment
De-
escalation
Remediation
Prevention

26. 26
1.4 The Intervention Process
Crisis
Intervention
Response
Containment
De-
escalation
Remediation
Prevention
The Five Steps of Crisis Intervention
The initial response by those tasked with
confronting and evaluating the crisis.

27. 27
1.4
Crisis
Intervention
Response
Containment
De-
escalation
Remediation
Prevention
The initial response by those tasked with
confronting and evaluating the crisis.
Actions taken to prevent
the crisis from worsening
or spreading to other
systems.
The Intervention Process
The Five Steps of Crisis Intervention

28. 28
1.4
Crisis
Intervention
Response
Containment
De-
escalation
Remediation
Prevention
The initial response by those tasked with
confronting and evaluating the crisis.
Actions taken to prevent
the crisis from worsening
or spreading to other
systems.
Actions taken to bring the crisis to
an end in order to return systems
impacted to a state of equilibrium
The Intervention Process
The Five Steps of Crisis Intervention

29. 29
1.4
Crisis
Intervention
Response
Containment
De-
escalation
Remediation
Prevention
The initial response by those tasked with
confronting and evaluating the crisis.
Actions taken to prevent
the crisis from worsening
or spreading to other
systems.
Actions taken to bring the crisis to
an end in order to return systems
impacted to a state of equilibrium
Actions taken to alleviate the
negative residual effects of the
crisis
The Intervention Process
The Five Steps of Crisis Intervention

30. 30
1.4
Crisis
Intervention
Response
Containment
De-
escalation
Remediation
Prevention
The initial response by those tasked with
confronting and evaluating the crisis.
Actions taken to prevent
the crisis from worsening
or spreading to other
systems.
Actions taken to bring the crisis to
an end in order to return systems
impacted to a state of equilibrium
Actions taken to alleviate the
negative residual effects of the
crisis
Actions taken to prevent
the crisis from occurring
again in the future
The Intervention Process
The Five Steps of Crisis Intervention

31. © 2013 by Pearson Higher Education, Inc
Upper Saddle River, New Jersey 07458 • All Rights Reserved
The phenomenon of crisis can be defined as a loss of equilibrium in our
internal and/or external systems of control, requiring third-party
intervention to regain homeostasis.
A crisis can be classified according to it’s potential for effecting other
systems and expanding beyond the immediate crisis event. We can classify
these events as microcrisis, mesocrisis, exocrisis, and macrocrisis.
America has a long history of crisis intervention, beginning with the
Whiskey Rebellion of 1794. In 1829, Sir Robert Peel established the
London Metropolitan Police Dept., beginning the modern era of policing,
which led to the establishment of police departments in Boston,
Philedelphia, and NYC. The American Red Cross was established in 1881,
and in 1979, President Carter established FEMA.
The five components of modern crisis intervention are response,
containment, de-escalation, remediation, and prevention.
CHAPTER SUMMARY
1.1
1.2
1.3
1.4

32. © 2013 by Pearson Higher Education, Inc
Upper Saddle River, New Jersey 07458 • All Rights Reserved
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
1. Select any recent national or international crisis and discuss the
response to that event in terms of the crisis intervention continuum.
Was the response successful? Was it criticized?
2. Many times large amounts of resources are spent de-escalating a
microcrisis involving a single individual. For example, a large number
of police and other emergency personnel may be deployed to
intervene in the case of an individual threatening to jump from a
building or bridge. Should we as a society weigh the decision to
intervene in such a crisis against the potential costs to the taxpayer?
Why or why not?
3. In the event of a macrocrisis, like the events of September 11, 2001, is
it an acceptable measure at times to limit the rights and freedoms of
American citizens in order to contain and de-escalate the crisis?