BOP Program Statement 5310.17 § 2

a. Mission Statement. Psychology Services Departments actively support the Bureau’s mission

by contributing to the operation of safe, humane, cost-effective, and appropriately secure facilities

and by providing reentry programming to reduce recidivism and facilitate offenders’ successful

return to the community. Specifically, the mission of Psychology Services is to provide three key

services in the Bureau:

■ Mental Health Care. Psychology Services Departments provide mental health care for

inmates, which include the assessment and treatment of a wide range of mental disorders. The

mental health care provided to the inmates is consistent with professional standards and best

practices in correctional psychology.

■ Reentry Services. Psychology Services Departments offer evidence-based, cognitive-behavioral programming to address risk factors associated with criminal conduct; i.e.,

criminogenic needs. This programming facilitates successful reentry by reducing an offender’s

likelihood of recidivism.

■ Behavioral Scientist Expertise. Behavioral science is the systematic analysis and

investigation of human behavior; psychologists are trained behavioral scientists. By sharing

their understanding of human behavior, psychologists play a significant role in the orderly

operation of Bureau facilities. Psychologists share their expertise during formal training events

and informal, routine consultations with staff.

b. Model of Service Delivery. The Psychology Services Department is organized as a separate,

centralized department within the institution or complex with adequate privacy, space, and

resources to meet the institution’s need for psychological services as described above. The offices

of residential Psychology Treatment Program (PTP) staff should be located within the respective

unit. In addition, grouping of staff offices is appropriate when such grouping is done in accordance

with the special Psychology Services missions of an institution.

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The Bureau has chosen cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) as a theoretical model to guide

psychological service delivery because of its proven effectiveness with inmate populations. CBT

is a broad term and includes a variety of cognitive-behaviorally based treatment protocols utilized

in the Bureau, to include Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT) and Dialectical Behavior

Therapy (DBT). Empirical support for CBT’s effectiveness is noted both in the treatment of

mental disorders and criminal thinking patterns. Therefore, CBT is utilized to address two

components of the Psychology Services mission – mental health care and reentry services. CBT

emphasizes the learning and practice of skills associated with improved mental health and

adaptive, pro-social behavior. Therefore, inmates who participate in CBT and related interventions

are better able to achieve goals the Bureau has for all inmates, including responsibility, self-awareness, and independence.

Specific to reentry services, the Bureau has also organized services under a Risk-Need-Responsivity

model. Here, treatment resources are directed toward inmates who are at the highest risk of re-offense based on validated assessment procedures. Treatment protocols are selected or designed

to address risk factors for criminal reoffending.

These include but are not limited to those identified with substance use disorders; sex offenders;

and those with offense supportive attitudes and beliefs; i.e., criminal thinking patterns.

Interventions are delivered in a manner that is responsive to each inmate’s unique treatment needs,

to include learning style and level of motivation.

The Bureau’s core value of correctional excellence underlies the service delivery model for

behavioral scientist expertise. Psychology Services staff are “correctional workers first” and in

this context they are uniquely situated to offer their perspective on understanding human behavior.

As fellow correctional workers, psychologists work alongside their Bureau peers, offering their

expertise through both formal training events and informal staff consultation. The presence of

Psychology Services in the institution also increases the likelihood Bureau staff will feel

comfortable utilizing Employee Assistance Program and/or Crisis Support Team services.

c. Priorities for Delivery of Psychological Services. The following list of priorities describes

the professional duties and responsibilities of a Psychology Services Department. The Chief

Psychologist is responsible for ensuring the department adheres to the priorities and for ensuring a

fair and equitable distribution of the workload associated with meeting these priorities. The Chief

Psychologist shares the priority list with new departmental staff during their initial orientation and

with all departmental staff on at least an annual basis. In addition, Chief Psychologists are

responsible for informing and educating others of the importance of performing priority tasks, as

opposed to non-emergency and non-clinical tasks.

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(1) Priority 1 – Priority 1 tasks are Psychology Services functions essential to the safety and

security of staff and inmates.

■ Inmate Suicide Prevention Program, to include risk assessment, intervention, and staff training.

■ Activities geared toward staff health, wellness, and safety to include EAP, involvement in

CST/CNT, suicide prevention, and related training.

■ Acute crisis intervention with suicidal, dangerous, psychotic, or sexually victimized inmates, to

include consultation with staff regarding the management of these inmates.

■ Treatment and care of inmates diagnosed with a serious mental illness, to include the delivery

of priority practices for this population.

■ Initial psychological screening and evaluation of inmates, to include assessments of risk for

sexual victimization or abusiveness.

■ Restrictive housing rounds, reviews, and interventions.

■ Compliance with professional, correctional, and other standards applicable to safety and

security.

(2) Priority 2 – Priority 2 tasks are vital Psychology Services functions.

■ Evidence-based individual and group treatment for inmate mental health issues that do not rise

to the level of a serious mental disorder.

■ Evidence-based programming aimed at reducing inmate misconduct and recidivism.

■ Specialized Psychology Treatment Programs, e.g., Residential Drug Abuse Program, Sex

Offender Treatment Program, Resolve Program, Mental Health Step Down Unit.

■ Court-ordered forensic evaluations, other policy mandated psychological evaluations, and

intellectual assessments completed in conjunction with potential referrals for a GED

accommodation.

■ Documentation in the Psychology Data System (PDS) in the Bureau Electronic Medical Record

(BEMR), in support of continuity of care within, between, and outside of Bureau facilities.

■ Consultation with Unit Disciplinary Committee (UDC) and Discipline Hearing Officer (DHO).

■ Mandatory clinical training for psychologists and treatment specialists.

■ Clinical supervision of psychologists and treatment specialists.

■ Attendance at essential administrative meetings; e.g., Special Housing Unit (SHU) Department

Head meeting.

■ Recruitment and retention of psychologists, treatment specialists, and other Psychology

Services staff.

■ Performance of functions supporting and maintaining systems of control to ensure policy

compliance, to include conducting Psychology Services Operational Reviews and Perpetual

Audits.

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(3) Priority 3 – Priority 3 tasks enhance and strengthen the functioning of Psychology

Services Departments and the institution.

■ Continuing education for Psychology Services staff in support of professional development,

licensure, and/or certification.

■ Training of graduate students, psychology interns, and post-doctoral residents.

■ Unit team consultation regarding reentry and release planning.

■ Consultation on general behavioral science topics.

■ Participation in the Operational Reviews, Perpetual Audits, and/or Program Reviews of other

departments/facilities.

■ Coordination of special projects and/or activities within the institution; e.g., American

Correctional Association Audit, Combined Federal Campaign.

■ Development of novel local programs, groups, or services.

■ Participation in research projects at the local, regional, or national level.

■ Resource staff member or subject matter expert for the Psychology Services Branch.

■ Cross development courses and other non-mandated training unrelated to the maintenance of

professional licensure/certification.

■ Collateral duties unrelated to Psychology Services.

d. Duties of Psychology Services Staff in Emergency Situations. Except in emergency

situations, positions allocated and funded to provide psychological services are assigned for the

provision of these services. Emergency situations are defined as situations requiring an immediate

response (e.g., body alarm) or activation of the institution’s emergency plans (e.g., escape, food

strike). Except in emergency situations, psychologists and treatment specialists are not assigned

non-Psychology Services duties; e.g., coverage of a custody post, unit management functions,

acting department head (outside of Psychology Services), institution duty officer. This exclusion

is reiterated in the Program Statements Psychology Treatment Programs and Sex Offender

Programs.

Bureau psychologists do not conduct investigations or perform fitness for duty evaluations.