Internship Training Opportunities in Correctional Psychology: A Comparison of Settings

Seventy-nine training directors of internship programs based in prisons, jails, and selected forensic settings received surveys concerning several aspects of their programs. Fifty-three responded for a return rate of 67%. Whereas these programs are seen to exist on a continuum with few sharp lines of distinction between them, there are enough differences to warrant applying the term correctional psychology internship specifically to those programs offering training experiences primarily in general population prison/jail settings. Different training emphases and staffing patterns were among factors distinguishing corrections-based internships from their more traditionally forensic counterparts. Both forensic and prison programs offer a wide variety of training experiences and continue to enjoy administrative support.