NCJ Number
127245
Journal
Journal of Offender Rehabilitation Volume: 16 Issue: 1/2 Dated: (1990) Pages: 163-174
Date Published
1990
Length
12 pages
Annotation
This study compares the actual roles and functions of correctional psychologists to their perceived ideal roles and functions.
Abstract
A two-part survey was used. In the first survey, questionnaires were mailed to 270 members of the American Association for Correctional Psychology, yielding a 45-percent return. Respondents reported actual and ideal times spent in eight broad job categories: diagnostics, case management, counseling and psychotherapy, consultation, inservice, program planning, program administration, and research. This survey revealed that the greatest amount of actual job time was spent in diagnostics, counseling and psychotherapy, and program administration. The second survey mailed questionnaires to the 121 respondents who completed the first survey, asking them to provide specific information on the eight job categories. Generally, the responding correctional psychologists wanted to spend less time in diagnostics and program administration and more time in counseling and psychotherapy, emphasizing social-personal learning and de-emphasizing prison adjustment for its own sake. They also wished to spend more time in program planning and research, viewing these as important tools in the development of more effective programs. 1 table and 9 references