Assignment 1: Correctional Psychology
Introduction:
According to the Bureau of Justice Statistics, in 2011-2012, 37% of prisoners and 44% of jail inmates had been told by a mental health professional in the past that they had a mental health disorder (BJS Summary, June 2017).
Due to the criminalization of the mentally ill, more people with mental disorders are being sent to prison rather than secure psychiatric facilities. In addition, inmates may require mental health services for disorders not evident prior to incarceration. There is a need for professionals with mental health backgrounds in correctional settings.
This week, you examine how inmates with mental disorders are treated within correctional settings. You also examine roles of supporting professionals related to treatment plans in correctional settings. Need Assignment Help?
Students will:
- Analyze roles of supporting professionals related to treatment plans in correctional settings
- Evaluate challenges of implementing treatment plans within correctional settings
- Analyze the role of the forensic psychologist related to treatment plans in correctional settings
Assignment 2: Supporting Mental Health In Correctional Settings
Within the correctional setting there are a number of roles involved in the implementation of treatment plans for inmates with mental disorders. These roles include administrator, staff psychologist, case manager, forensic treatment specialist, therapeutic group leader, law enforcement advocate, correctional officer, unit manager, parole officer, and parole board member. Having a mental health background is required for some, while not required for others. Such a background can be critically important.
Mental health training dictates the level and type of interaction a professional may have with inmates. A staff psychologist has more influence on an inmate's treatment plan, while a correctional officer has more influence on an inmate's schedule, work assignment, or security level.
For this Discussion, you analyze roles of supporting professionals related to treatment plans in correctional settings. You also evaluate challenges of implementing treatment plans within correctional settings. In the beginning of the week, your instructor will assign you to a specific role for this Discussion.
To prepare for this Discussion:
Review Chapter 14 in Wrightsman's psychology and the legal system. Consider community-based alternatives to incarceration and the use and effectiveness of the death penalty.
Review Chapter 15 in Wrightsman's psychology and the legal system. Think about the role of psychology in the adjudication of delinquency (for juveniles) and criminal conviction (for adults).
Resources:
Be sure to review the Learning Resources before completing this activity.
To Prepare:
Review the article "Clinical Practice in Corrections: Providing Service, Obtaining Experience." Consider the uniquely qualified workforce needed in correctional settings.
Review the article "Stopping the Revolving Door: A Meta-Analysis on the Effectiveness of Interventions for Criminally Involved Individuals with Major Mental Disorders." Think about the issues involved with effectively treating individuals with mental disorders within the correctional setting.
Review the article "Mentally Ill Individuals in Limbo: Obstacles and Opportunities for Providing Psychiatric Services to Corrections Inmates with Mental Illness." Consider how to improve the delivery of mental health services in correctional settings.
Visit websites such as those located in this week's Optional Resources to find information about supporting professional roles within correctional settings. Pay particular attention to the role your instructor has assigned to you.
Post your response to the following using the thread labeled with your assigned supporting role:
Given your assigned role, describe how it might be performed differently by someone with a forensic psychology background versus someone without. In general, what challenges exist when implementing treatment plans in correctional settings?
Respond to postings from at least two of your colleagues in one or more of the following ways:
Ask a probing question and provide insight into how you would answer your question, and why.
Ask a probing question and provide the foundation, or rationale, for the question.
Expand on your colleague's posting by offering a new perspective or insight.
Agree with a colleague and offer additional (new) supporting information for consideration.
Disagree with a colleague by respectfully discussing and supporting a different perspective.
Assignment 3: The Roles Of Personnel In A Correctional Setting
Many variables can influence the supervision an individual receives for a mental disorder in a correctional setting. Those variables include the type of mental disorder, the correctional setting, and the training and education of the professionals within the setting.
For this Application Assignment (Section 4 of your Comprehensive Report), you review your case and describe the role of the forensic psychologist in terms of monitoring the convicted individual's specific mental disorder within a correctional setting. That role can include suggesting specific placement for the inmate (segregation, mental health unit, etc.), recommending group and/or individual therapy, referring the inmate for medication, conducting assessments, etc. You then describe the role of professionals who would be involved with the implementation of those goals (case manager, correctional officer, parole officer, etc.).
Please note that this assignment is Section 4 of your Comprehensive Report
To prepare for this Application Assignment:
Review the assignment directions below (or Comprehensive Report Section 4 in the Instructions) and the Application Assignment rubric located in the Course Information area.
Review your assigned case. Consider the mental health services to be offered by the correctional setting.
Review this week's Learning Resources.
Submit a 2-4-page paper (Comprehensive Report Section 4) that answers the following questions:
- With what was the individual convicted (e.g., Felony Theft)?
- What is the individual's mental diagnosis (e.g., Schizophrenia)?
- Describe the role a forensic psychologist in a correctional setting would have with this individual.
- Based on the mental disorder, what might be included in the psychologist's recommendations?
Resources:
Be sure to review the Learning Resources before completing this activity.
Beyond the forensic psychologist, who else might be involved with the implementation of the psychologist's recommendations, and in what way would they be involved?