BOP Program Statement 5310.17 § 4

The delivery of psychological services in the Bureau is guided by the American Psychological

Association’s (APA’s) Ethical Principles for Psychologists and Code of Conduct, as well as the

APA’s guidelines for the professional practice of psychology. Psychologists are responsible for the

assessment and treatment of mental disorders in the inmate population. Utilizing their clinical

expertise, psychologists identify inmates in need of mental health care and determine the type of

psychological services to be provided. Health Services staff perform similar functions with respect

to psychiatric mental health care. Mental health providers in Psychology Services make the final

determination regarding who will receive psychological care, and the nature of the care they will

receive.

Chief psychologists are responsible for ensuring the psychological services provided by their

departments meet or exceed professional standards and are informed by empirical data in the field

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of psychology, as well as an understanding of best practices in correctional psychology. To this

end, the Branch designates certain Evidence-Based Practices (EBPs) as Priority Practices. Priority

Practices are:

■ EBPs.

■ Interventions addressing core mental health and/or reentry needs of the inmate population.

■ Services for inmates with the greatest need for mental health intervention and/or the greatest

risk of recidivism.

■ Cost effective interventions selected and supported by the Branch as preferred service

modalities for the agency.

The Branch places information regarding Priority Practices for each type of institution on

Sallyport. Chief Psychologists are responsible for selecting interventions from the Priority

Practices list consistent with their institution’s security level, care level, and mission. Ordinarily,

Psychology Services Departments are actively engaged in the provision of Priority Practices as an

essential function. Priority Practices are offered before other types of programming groups.

Inmate Orientation to Psychology Services. Each institution is responsible for providing newly

arriving inmates with information about available psychological services – both locally and at

other Bureau institutions as applicable. This information is presented to inmates during the

institution’s Admission and Orientation (A&O) Program and in the A&O Handbook. In addition,

inmates may be provided with additional information at the time of their psychological intake and

via postings on bulletin boards and/or TRULINCS.

The Chief Psychologist ensures the Psychology Services A&O Lesson Plan and Psychology

Services section of the A&O Handbook describe the services provided by the department and the

procedures for inmate access to Psychology Services. Each institution will use the standardized

A&O Lesson Plan available on Sallyport, with the necessary institution-specific information

inserted. The Psychology A&O Lesson Plan must include, at a minimum, information on drug

treatment programs, mental health programs, sex offender programs, suicide prevention, privacy

and confidentiality, and local procedures for obtaining psychological services. The Psychology

Services A&O Lesson Plan is presented by a psychologist. During the A&O presentation, the

psychologist makes every effort to present the material in a manner which will motivate inmates

with a need for services to pursue and engage in treatment.

Inmate requests for services are responded to immediately for crisis situations or potential suicide

risk, and ordinarily within three (3) working days for routine requests. Responses for routine

requests may include an appointment, an invitation to the department’s open house hours,

placement on a waiting list for the desired services, clarification, or redirection.

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