Psychological Treatment in Correctional Settings
This week’s reading assignments include chapters relating to the provision of psychological treatments in correctional settings. Chapter 12 discusses the findings of Boothby & Clements (2000) survey of psychologists working in state and federal correctional facilities across the U.S. Increasingly, the prison populations reflect a high number of inmates suffering from identified mental illnesses. This presents issues for corrections personnel who are responsible for the safety of prisoners as well as the safety of staff. The goals of the correctional psychological service providers may not be consistent with the overall goals of the institution. The mental health status of offenders impacts staffing considerations, both in number and in skills, of incarceration facilities. Large populations of inmates with mental health issues can impact the stress levels of staff, which can influence their job performance as well as their interpersonal relationships.
Address the following points in your paper
- Discuss the impacts of the psychological make–up of offenders has on the functional responsibilities of incarceration facilities.
- Discuss how the biases and assumptions of correctional service providers influence their assessment of and interaction with these offenders.
- Explain your findings within the continuing context of the endogenous and exogenous theories of criminal behavior and the analysis of how our biases and assumptions influence our assessments of individuals.
- Correlate your findings to the cultural-based behavior patterns specific to segments of the population with an evaluation of the potential impact and intervention strategies utilized to reduce the impact of stress on law enforcement personnel.
The Psychological Treatment in Correctional Settings paper
- Must be three to four double-spaced pages in length (not including title and references pages) and formatted according to APA style as outlined in the Writing Center (Links to an external site.).
- Must include a separate title page with the following:
- Title of paper
- Student’s name
- Course name and number
- Instructor’s name
- Date submitted
- Must use at least three scholarly sources in addition to the course text.
- Must document all sources in APA style as outlined in the Writing Center.
- Must include a separate references page that is formatted according to APA style as outlined in the Writing Center.
Required Resources
Text
Bartol A., & Bartol C. (2019). Introduction to forensic psychology: Research and application (5th ed.). Sage Publications, Inc.
- Chapter 7: The Development of Delinquent and Criminal Behavior
- Chapter 12: Correctional Psychology in Adult Settings
- Chapter 13: Juvenile Justice and Corrections
Recommended Resources
Text
Bartol A., & Bartol C. (2019). Introduction to forensic psychology: Research and application (5th ed.). Sage Publications, Inc.
- Chapter 6: Family Law and Other Forms of Civil Litigation
Websites
American Corrections Association (Links to an external site.). (www.aca.org)
- According to the ACA mission statement, “The American Correctional Association provides a professional organization for all individuals and groups, both public and private that share a common goal of improving the justice system.” This website can assist you in the development of each of this week’s activities.
NICIC.gov: National Institute of Corrections (Links to an external site.). (http://nicic.gov/)
- The National Institute of Corrections “is an agency within the U.S. Department of Justice, Federal Bureau of Prisons.” It is devoted to providing “training, technical assistance, informational services, and policy/program development assistance to federal, state, and local corrections agencies.” The website provides links to the many services offered by the NICIC and current projects, as well as a library for professional publications devoted to the field of corrections. This website can assist you in the development of each of this week’s activities.
National Sheriff’s Association (Links to an external site.). (http://www.sheriffs.org/)
- The mission statement of the National Sheriff’s Association states the organization “is dedicated to raising the level of professionalism among sheriffs, their deputies, and others in the field of criminal justice, public safety, and law enforcement so that they may perform their jobs in the best possible manner and better serve the people of their cities, counties, or jurisdictions.” The web site contains links to numerous anti-crime programs offered nationwide, Congressional correspondence, and press releases. This website can assist you in the development of each of this week’s activities.
