Correctional psychology

Correctional psychology is a specialized area of psychology that focuses on applying psychology in jails, prisons, and other correctional settings. Typical duties include assessment, crisis intervention, staff training, administrative consulting, and group and individual therapy with criminally-involved persons. The goals of correctional psychology include contributing to the safety and well-being of staff and offenders by meeting standards of care for mentally ill individuals (see Standards for Psychology Services in Jails, Prisons, Correctional Facilities, and Agencies - IACFP, 2010), reducing conflict, and creating, monitoring and providing treatment and rehabilitation programs. Correctional and forensic psychology programs have become increasingly popular in the United States and Europe. Professional societies, including The International Association for Correctional and Forensic Psychology (IACFP, ) which publishes Criminal Justice and Behavior, a leading academic and research journal, as well as a newsletter, The IACFP Newsletter, for example, provide resources for aspiring or current correctional and forensic practitioners. The IACFP also provides an anonymous Ethical Hotline which serves as an additional resource for correctional professions.

History

Most of the work during the early 1900’s in correctional psychology in relation to state and federal, was deciphering who was “feeble minded” and who would most likely have a long life of committing crimes. Linder H, distinguished 1913 as the year when correctional psychology started to integrate into the United State’s psychological system. Particularly in a women’s penitentiary in New York. Eleanor Rowland was the psychologist designated to conclude what offenders could benefit from being placed in programs and who could be safe for society. This process is called custody decisions or treatment decisions. The first time this kind of prison classification system was integrated into facilities was in New Jersey in 1918, also becoming the first state to hire psychologist considered correctional. However, Wisconsin was the first state in 1924 to allow psychological evaluations in its prison systems and applications for parole. The first correctional psychologist's jobs involved testing, providing guidance in a number of different ways, and maintaining good relationships with the prisoners. They called themselves “prison psychologists”.[1]

See also

References

  1. ↑ Irving Weiner; Randy Otto (2013). The Handbook of Forensic Psychology, 4th Edition.
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