Staff members in correctional facilities navigate a unique blend of challenges and rewards in their work. In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, corrections staff well-being must be prioritized and met with effective organizational responses. IACFP recently brought together a panel of experts for the IACFP/ICPA webinar: "Staff Well-Being and Resilience in Correctional Environments - During and After a Pandemic." Here, we provide highlights from the webinar, including the impact of COVID-19 on staff, operational and mental health measures, coping strategies, and resources. The Impact of COVID-19 on Staff Although the work of corrections staff creates high levels of stress, the threat of … [Read more...]

There exists a population of staff working in the corrections system who all manage common responsibilities, services, goals and participant demographics. These individuals, whom I have titled "Frontline Community Reintegration Officers" (FCRO), facilitate previous offender’s re-entry into the community outside of a correction, or prison facility.  FCROs are an international workforce, operating in various countries including Canada, the USA, and Australia, despite utilising different role descriptors (e.g., forensic case manager, parole officer, community corrections worker). Staff falling into this category have received lesser research attention comparative to well-defined forensic … [Read more...]

Criminal Justice Reform & The Man in Black It was on July, 1972 that musician Johnny Cash (“the ‘Man in Black”), having already performed at a number of prisons in Texas and elsewhere, appeared in front of a Senate subcommittee on prison reform, and lobbied for criminal justice reform in America; an advocate position he maintained during most of his 30-year performance career.  Since Mr. Cash’s 1972 appearance, America evolved into a “tough on crime” society, incarcerating more individuals than any other developed country in the world—currently approximating over 2.3 million individuals,with another estimated 6 million individuals on legal supervision—and remaining the only developed … [Read more...]

We've compiled top highlights from news stories across the world in this month's IACFP International News Summary. Our March to September topics include COVID-19 resources and information, articles of interest from Criminal Justice and Behavior, emerging research, and resources for practitioners. 1. COVID-19 RESOURCES AND INFORMATION The University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB) has published COVID-19 Information and Guidance on their website. The materials on “Resilience:  Mind-Body-Spirit” are especially good for practitioners. The daily tip and other information can be viewed here.   The Psychology of COVID-19, How to Manage Your Mental Health and Take Back … [Read more...]

Welcome to the IACFP Correctional and Forensic Psychology Blog. Its primary purpose is to provide articles that are published in the IACFP e-Newsletter.  These articles are intended to share information and discuss professional concerns and interests. Contributions will be made by IACFP members and article authors. Posts will also come from interviews and current events in the field.If you have an area of interest that you would like to be covered in these articles, please contact executivedirectoriacfp@gmail.com.  … [Read more...]