ABSTRACT
This manuscript presents a Crisis-Informed Model for counseling justice-involved individuals and emphasizes arrest and detainment as critical crisis events with significant psychological impact. Through integration of crisis-informed care with crisis intervention strategies, including psychological first aid (PFA), this model addresses a crucial gap in counselor training and practice. Justice involvement is reframed as an opportunity for early mental health intervention rather than merely a legal consequence. This paper calls for counselor education programs to incorporate crisis-focused, culturally responsive training, and community partnerships to prepare counselors to effectively support and advocate for this marginalized population, ultimately aiming to disrupt cycles of trauma and recidivism.