DEVELOPMENT OF A CORRECTIONAL-CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGY PROGRAM

• NCJ Number: 53167
• Journal: Professional Psychology Volume: 9 Issue: 3 Dated: (AUGUST 1978) Pages: 440-447
• Author(s): R D FOWLER; S L BRODSKY
• Date Published: 1978
• Length: 8 pages
• Corporate Author: American Psychological Assoc
• Publication Format: Article
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

THE DEVELOPMENT OF A GRADUATE TRAINING PROGRAM IN CORRECTIONAL-CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGY AT THE UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA IS DESCRIBED.

Abstract

SINCE 1971, THE UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA DEPARTMENT OF PSYCHOLOGY HAS COMBINED ACADEMIC INSTRUCTION, FIELD CONSULTATION, RESEARCH, AND SOCIAL ACTIVISM IN A GRADUATE TRAINING PROGRAM IN CORRECTIONAL-CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGY. AN ORGANIZATIONAL COMPONENT WITHIN THE DEPARTMENT, THE CENTER FOR CORRECTIONAL PSYCHOLOGY, HAS BEEN THE PRIMARY COORDINATING AND TRAINING VEHICLE. THE CORRECTIONAL PSYCHOLOGY CURRICULUM REQUIRES 12 HOURS OF SPECIALIZATION COURSES, WHICH TYPICALLY INCLUDE A GRADUATE SEMINAR IN CORRECTIONAL PSYCHOLOGY THEORY, RESEARCH AND PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT, A LAW AND PSYCHOLOGY SEMINAR, AND A COURSE RELATING TO MINORITIES AND CRIMINAL JUSTICE. STUDENTS ARE EXPECTED TO COMPLETE AN INTERNSHIP IN A CORRECTIONAL OR CRIMINAL JUSTICE SETTING IN WHICH APPROPRIATE SUPERVISORS AND ROLE MODELS ARE PRESENT. PRIOR TO THE INTERNSHIP YEAR, SUMMER JOB PLACEMENTS ARE MADE WITHIN JUSTICE AGENCIES OR OTHER RELATED SETTINGS, AND TRAINING ASSIGNMENTS ARE MADE WITHIN THE PSYCHOLOGY DEPARTMENT WHICH RELATE TO JUSTICE RESEARCH ISSUES AND PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT. FINALLY, STUDENTS ARE REQUIRED TO WRITE A DISSERTATION RELEVANT TO THE AREA IN WHICH THEY HAVE SERVED THEIR INTERNSHIP. THE EXPERIENCES OF THE TWO STUDENTS WHO HAVE GRADUATED FROM THE PROGRAM THUS FAR ARE DESCRIBED. IN ADDITION TO COORDINATING THE GRADUATE PROGRAM IN CORRECTIONAL CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGY, THE CENTER FOR CORRECTIONAL PSYCHOLOGY IS ALSO ENGAGED IN THE FOLLOWING ACTIVITIES: CONSULTATION WITH CRIMINAL JUSTICE AGENCIES, TRAINING CRIMINAL JUSTICE PERSONNEL, SERVING AS A CLEARINGHOUSE FOR CORRECTIONAL INFORMATION, SPECIAL PROGRAMS AND PROJECTS, PUBLICATIONS, JOURNALS, THE PREPARATION AND PRESENTATION OF EXPERT TESTIMONY IN COURT, AND A PROJECT TO RECLASSIFY ALL INMATES IN THE ALABAMA PRISON SYSTEM UNDER A COURT MANDATE FOR PRISON REORGANIZATION. EACH OF THESE CENTER ACTIVITIES IS BRIEFLY DISCUSSED. REFERENCES ARE PROVIDED. (RCB)