Prison Counseling: View from Behind the Bars

Prison Counseling: View from Behind the Bars

Prison counselors have the task of evaluating inmates' stability and behavior. Occasionally, they also testify in court as expert witnesses, and they give their opinion on a prisoner's progress or lack thereof in a parole hearing. Counselors also work with employers, community organizers and others to assist a prisoner in making a successful transition into society once he or she has served a sentence.

Other responsibilities of prison counselors

Prison counselors also participate in creating workshops, special programs and group sessions that benefit prisoners' mental health. When new inmates are incarcerated, counselors have an opportunity to offer them any assistance they feel will contribute to their rehabilitation. Oftentimes, prisoners may even have suggestions as to what should be done in their facility that would help them progress.

Dealing with special cases

In situations where prisoners are categorized by various security levels to determine where they will be housed, correctional counselors often make suggestions depending on the amount of progress an inmate has made. If there is concern for the prisoner's safety, a counselor usually approaches the warden or other authority figure to move that inmate to a safer area in the facility or have the individual transferred to another prison.

In cases where a prisoner is found to be suicidal or becomes extremely violent, the prison counselor is often assigned the task or working with that individual in dealing with this dangerous behavior. Individualized counseling is required in order to control this type of situation, rather than working in a group setting.

Prisoner rehabilitation

Prison counseling professionals often help inmates obtain the skills and training they need in order for them to function once they leave prison. If parole is a factor, a prison counselor will also help them find a job before their release. In some prisons, counselors also write up recommendations concerning the potential release of a prisoner, indicating whether that individual needs more time in order to be fully rehabilitated.

Training to become a prison counselor

Argosy University offers a Postgraduate Certificate and a Masters of Arts degree in the field of Forensic Psychology. The program stresses training and education related to organizational and legal consultation, program analysis and law enforcement.

The certificate program for correctional counselors is intended for those earning a doctoral degree in clinical psychology, clinical psychologists who have earned an advanced degree and others working in the health care field. This graduate program stresses the application of appropriate skills in correctional psychology, the criminal justice system and related treatment.

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