Training Practitioners for Prison: An Undergraduate Internship Career Pipeline for Mental Health Providers in Correctional Facilities

Sean I. Gibbs^1, , Darci Salsberry¹ and Logan Patterson¹

¹Psychology Program, Dillard University, New Orleans, Louisiana, United States of America

Cite this paper:
Sean I. Gibbs, Darci Salsberry and Logan Patterson. Training Practitioners for Prison: An Undergraduate Internship Career Pipeline for Mental Health Providers in Correctional Facilities. Research in Psychology and Behavioral Sciences. 2025; 13(1):1-8. doi: 10.12691/rpbs-13-1-1

Abstract

Providing mental health services within correctional facilities is challenging for several reasons. The high prevalence of mental illness among incarcerated individuals, prioritizing security over inmates' mental health care needs, high staff turnover, and correctional staff's lack of training in identifying mental health issues all create barriers to providing these services. However, the shortage of mental health professionals willing to work in corrections is a significant problem in delivering services in this setting. The research article explores the obstacles of providing mental health services in correctional facilities and offers a solution through an internship program focused on creating a career pipeline for mental health professionals in correctional settings. A mixed-methods approach was used to analyze existing training programs to inform the design of a new internship curriculum focused on earlier career preparation at the undergraduate level. Research limitations and implications for future exploration focus on reducing the potential risk of harm or liability for experimental pilot program studies on the internship program's ability to increase the number of mental health practitioners in correctional facilities.

Keywords:
mental health corrections career pipeline undergraduate internship training forensic psychology curriculum

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