NCJ Number
228368
Date Published
2009
Length
200 pages
Annotation
This revised and updated second edition of "A Handbook for Correctional Psychologists" presents an overview of empirical findings and practices in the field, with attention to the psychologist's role in a correctional institutional setting.
Abstract
The introductory chapter presents a realistic portrayal of what is involved in working in a correctional environment. It also presents an overview of the growth of corrections in the United States, the role of psychologists and the contribution of psychology in corrections, and the effectiveness of correctional treatment. Chapter 2, "Environmental Differences in Corrections," focuses on the interpersonal and work environments, confidentiality issues, and the power of communication as well as secrets in a correctional environment. In chapter 3, the roles of the correctional psychologist are discussed as management consultant, in suicide prevention, sexual assault prevention, crisis interventions, and psychotherapy. The variety of other issues associated with the work of correctional psychologists discussed in this chapter include psychoactive medications, forensic work, drug treatment, sex offender treatment, boot camps, personnel selection, and hostage negotiation. In discussing the establishment and maintenance of appropriate relationships with inmates, chapter 4 discusses the need to develop healthy skepticism, the prevalence and treatment of mental illness in correctional environments, the management of mentally ill inmates, dealing with inmate manipulativeness, and building trusting and appropriate relationships while maintaining professional distance. Two chapters address malingering and deception in the treatment and management of inmates. Among the issues discussed are the assessment of malingering in the clinical interview, the use of tests to establish or confirm malingering, and the detection of malingering with various psychometric instruments. The remaining two chapters focus on issues in establishing and maintaining appropriate relationships with correctional staff and preparing for a career in correctional psychology. 250 references and subject and author indexes