Overview of Correctional Mental Health
Presented by: Virginia Barber Rioja, PhD and Ashley Batastini, PhD
1 Hour / 1 CE
On Demand | Self-Paced Professional Training
This on-demand professional training program on An Introduction to Correctional Mental Health is presented by Virginia Barber Rioja, PhD, and Ashley Batastini, PhD.
The U.S. incarcerates far more people than any other country in the world. The incarcerated population is overrepresented by people of color, LGBTQ persons, and people with extensive mental health, substance use, and trauma-related needs. In addition, criminogenic needs must be addressed to reduce reoffending risk.
The US correctional system provides opportunities for mental health professionals to contribute their science as clinicians, researchers, and policy advocates. Adequate mental health interventions are essential to prevent suicide and violence, mitigate stress, and overall increase the chances of rehabilitation and recovery. However, the delivery of mental health services in correctional settings is challenging, and resources are often limited. Furthermore, even though mental health practice and research in correctional settings require specialized knowledge, correctional clinicians, administrators, and scholars have few resources to guide their practice.
This introductory program provides an overview of the US correctional system, ethical considerations for clinical practice, best practices in assessment and treatment, and the current state of correctional research.
This program would be appropriate for individuals wanting to work with incarcerated clients in jails or prisons, including Students, early career, or professionals who want more background in correctional mental health.
Learning Objectives
Upon completion of this training, participants will be able to:
- 1 Describe the role of mental health services in jails and prisons
- 2 Describe common evidence-based assessment and treatment practices in jails and prisons
- 3 Describe the current state of correctional mental health research
Presented By
Virginia Barber-Rioja, PhD
Dr. Virginia Barber-Rioja earned her Ph.D to the Clinical Psychology at John Jay Training Area, a discipline within the Graduate Center’s PhD Program in Psychology, in 2009. Upon graduation, she became the Clinical Director of Queens TASC Mental Health Diversion program, an alternative to incarceration program that works in collaboration with the Queens Mental Health Court, the District Attorney’s office and the defense bar. In this position, she helped reshape the program into a clinically informed diversion program that utilized testing and evidence-based risk assessments to aid the courts with eligibility decisions. She subsequently worked for three years as an attending psychologist in the Forensic Inpatient Unit of Bellevue Hospital Center, which provides treatment and assessment to incarcerated individuals with acute psychiatric conditions. In 2012, Dr. Barber Rioja became the Clinical Director of EAC Network’s Brooklyn and Staten Island court mental health diversion programs and jail and prison re-entry programs. In this job, she helped developed the Staten Island Mental Health Court, as well as a prison re-entry program for individuals with Severe Mental Illness.
Presented By
Ashley Batastini, PhD, Associate Professor in the Centre for Forensic Behavioural Science at Swinburne University of Technology
Ashley Batastini is an Associate Professor in the Centre for Forensic Behavioural Science at Swinburne University of Technology. She earned her Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology at Texas Tech University in the United States in 2015. Her work focuses on developing novel intervention strategies for higher-risk populations, improving access to appropriate interventions at various stages of criminal legal involvement, and addressing systemic factors within the carceral setting that can diminish the efficacy of interventions. Her research often considers ways to integrate technology into forensic and correctional mental health services. Beyond her research interests, Dr. Batastini has clinical expertise in conducting forensic mental health evaluations.
Training Outline
Key topics covered in this training include:
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Overview of the number of people incarcerated and by demographic groups
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General differences between jail and prison
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Outline of ethical guidelines, considerations, example dilemmas
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Common mental health conditions among incarcerated populations and common assessment and treatment responses
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An overview of RNR in addressing criminogenic needs
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Challenges and needs in correctional mental health research
Earning a Certificate
This is a badge-earning program, which means it will help you earn a certificate that can be showcased on digital platforms like LinkedIn.
CE Sponsorship Information
Palo Alto University, Continuing & Professional Studies (CONCEPT) is approved by, recognized by, or maintains sponsorship provider status with the following boards and agencies. We maintain responsibility for all content in our CE/CPD programs. For more information, visit here.
American Psychological Association (APA): Approved sponsor of continuing education for psychologists.
Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB): Approved continuing education provider (ACE program, Provider #1480), 11/22/2023–11/22/2026.
Canadian Psychological Association (CPA): Approved to sponsor continuing education for psychologists.
National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC): Approved Continuing Education Provider (ACEP No. 7190).
Palo Alto University, Continuing and Professional Studies (CONCEPT) is approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. Palo Alto University, Continuing and Professional Studies (CONCEPT) maintains responsibility for this program and its content. Palo Alto University, Continuing and Professional Studies (CONCEPT), is approved by the Canadian Psychological Association to offer continuing education for psychologists. Palo Alto University, Continuing and Professional Studies (CONCEPT), SW CPE is recognized by the New York State Education Department’s State Board for Social Work as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed social workers #SW-0356 and the New York State Education Department’s State Board for Mental Health Practitioners as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed mental health counselors. #MHC-0073. Palo Alto University, Continuing and Professional Studies (CONCEPT) has been approved by NBCC as an Approved Continuing Education Provider, ACEP No. 6811. Programs that do not qualify for NBCC credit are clearly identified. CONCEPT Professional Training, #1480, is approved to offer social work continuing education by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Approved Continuing Education (ACE) program. Organizations, not individual courses, are approved as ACE providers. State and provincial regulatory boards have the final authority to determine whether an individual course may be accepted for continuing education credit. CONCEPT Professional Training maintains responsibility for this course. ACE provider approval period: 11/22/23-11/22/26. Social workers completing this course receive (clinical or social work ethics) continuing education credits.