ROLE OF THE BEHAVIORAL SCIENTIST IN THE CANADIAN FEDERAL PENITENTIARY SYSTEM - ADDRESS BY P A FAGUY, COMMISSIONER OF PENITENTIARIES, TO THE AMERICAN PSYCHOLOGICAL ASSOCIATION ANNUAL MEETING - MONTREAL, AUGUST 30, 1973

• NCJ Number: 14884
• Author(s): P A FAGUY
• Date Published: 1973
• Length: 9 pages
• Corporate Author: Canadian Penitentiary Service
• Sale Source: National Institute of Justice/
• Language: English
• Country: Canada

Annotation

A REVIEW OF THE EXPANSION OF THE CORRECTIONS PSYCHOLOGIST ROLE INTO THAT OF ADMINISTRATOR, PROGRAM CONSULTANT, AND STAFF TRAINER.

Abstract

THE INCREASING USE OF PSYCHOLOGISTS IN A CLINICAL CAPACITY IN CANADIAN CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTIONS IS FIRST TRACED. ORIGINAL PROBLEMS ENCOUNTERED WERE CONFLICTS IN ATTITUDES BETWEEN PSYCHOLOGISTS AND PRISON STAFF, AND HIGH TURNOVER IN THE PSYCHOLOGIST'S POSITIONS DUE TO JOB DISSATISFACTION. THE AUTHOR STATES THAT EXPANDING THE PSYCHOLOGIST'S ROLE INTO ADMINISTRATION LED TO INCREASED INPUT INTO PROGRAM DECISIONS AND CLOSER WORK BETWEEN THE PSYCHOLOGIST AND PRISON STAFF. THE TRENDS CONCERNING CORRECTIONAL PSYCHOLOGISTS, SUCH AS THE TREATMENT OF ALL INMATES WITH ADJUSTMENT PROBLEMS AND NOT JUST THOSE WHO ARE SEVERELY DISTURBED, THE INCREASING USE OF GROUP TECHNIQUES FOR TREATMENT, AND THE TREND TO ALLOW OUTSIDE GROUPS RATHER THAN THE STAFF PSYCHOLOGIST TO DO RESEARCH FOR EVALUATION ARE ALL DISCUSSED.