Earning a degree from one of the online Applied Psychology programs offered by Florida Institute of Technology prepares students to pursue further education and many interesting, rewarding careers in the field. One such fascinating career is that of a prison psychologist. These professionals play a key role in society — for inmates, the prison system and greater society.
Prisoner rehabilitation and managing the criminally insane require skilled prison psychologists, highly trained professionals who can navigate this harsh environment and drive positive outcomes. According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, roughly 44% of people in jail and 37% of those in prison have a mental illness, compared to an estimated 18% of the general population. Given this, the need for prison psychologists is high.
Job Responsibilities of the Prison Psychologist
A prison psychologist — often known as a correctional psychologist — works with prisoners, offering treatment and support through psychological problems, anger management issues and substance abuse. Their work environment may range from asylums for the criminally insane to jails, courthouses and maximum-security prisons.
Inmates grapple with a complex array of issues that span poverty, abuse, trauma and drug addiction. Prison psychologists treat inmates of all types, from violent offenders and murderers to sexual predators and white-collar criminals. Regardless of why an inmate is in jail, the prison psychologist will treat them for existing mental disorders and to prevent them from committing any additional crimes.
The day-to-day tasks of a prison psychologist may include:
- facilitating individual and group therapy
- conducting client assessment crisis intervention
- applying drug-treatment services
- contributing to employee assistance programs
- conducting initial and developmental mental health screenings
Both psychologists and psychiatrists take on-call shifts for mental health crises, which may mean addressing suicidal thoughts, homicidal thoughts, victimization, rape, major depression, mania, panic attacks, death or grief. Additionally, psychologists may receive emergency calls for inmates acting out of the ordinary, as that can increase an inmate’s risk of victimization.
In some cases, prison psychologists may administer court-ordered assessments, which help criminal justice professionals understand a defendant’s sentence and determine whether prison time or probation is appropriate. For example, an assessment may establish if a defendant should receive parole with a requirement of attending therapy or if prison time should be ordered.
One critical component of the prison psychologist’s role is to support rehabilitation. Rehabilitation efforts include helping inmates establish the skill set necessary to manage anger, mental health and addiction while taking steps to reduce recidivism and minimize the chance an incarcerated person will return to prison.
Salaries for Psychologists
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), government-employed psychologists earned a median annual wage of $115,400 in 2023, making them the top earners compared to psychologists in other sectors. In the field overall, the median 2023 salary was $92,740 per year, with the highest 10% earning upwards of $151,880.
Salary potential and employment opportunities may vary depending on factors such as a candidate’s education and experience or regional market conditions. Students interested in pursuing education and a career in the field should conduct independent research to discover what they can expect in their region and intended specialty.
Career Outlook for Psychologists
Overall, BLS projects employment of psychologists will grow by 7% from 2023 to 2033. BLS projects employment growth for clinical and counseling psychologists to be 13% during that same timeframe. While this is the fastest-growing of the applied psychology occupations, all specialties show some degree of growth.
With the prison population generally expanding, the specific demand for psychologists in prison should also grow. With sizable staffs of mental health workers, professionals with the needed education and credentials should find opportunities to advance from entry-level roles to positions of oversight and leadership.
Education and Skills
As with other areas of psychology, state laws will dictate educational requirements. However, prison psychologists typically have a PsyD or PhD in psychology from an accredited institution. The intense environment requires prison psychologists to handle highly stressful environments, establish boundaries, exhibit compassion, adapt quickly and demonstrate resilience.
The rigorous nature of this role may also require internships, most likely a federal internship that involves inmate evaluation. Coursework may include studying how the law relates to psychology and topics such as developmental psychology, abnormal psychology, social psychology, forensic psychology, advanced counseling, and criminal minds or sociopathy.
While practicing as a psychologist generally requires a doctoral-level degree, a bachelor’s degree in psychology provides the foundation needed to excel in graduate school and a career to follow. Plus, some schools offer psychology degree specializations that may be particularly applicable to the prison psychologist career path.
For instance, Florida Tech offers several specialized online Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Applied Psychology programs. Two of the program specializations are forensic psychology and clinical psychology, which are highly applicable to working as a prison psychologist. For prospective students interested in exploring prison psychology or other roles in the field, earning a BA in Applied Psychology can be an important step toward a rewarding career.
Learn more about Florida Tech’s online Applied Psychology programs.
