Developing professional knowledge and abilities is imperative in having a successful career. Teachers give students the tools they need in college to develop the skills needed to have successful careers; but, those tools are merely a guide. The responsibility constantly to improve knowledge and ability in order to be successful falls on the individual. Different organizations and associations that specialize in different aspects of many professions are plentiful and are wonderful tools in developing and maintaining career skills.
The International Association for Correctional and Forensic Psychology (IAFCP) is “the voice of psychology in corrections” (IAFCP, 2007). The IAFCP works with other organizations such as the American Correctional Association, the International Corrections and Prisons Association, the Forensic Mental Health Association of California, and the American Psychological Association. The association is concerned with providing mental health services to criminals, and in the continued research and treatment of criminal behavior (IAFCP, 2007).
The number of criminals in the prison system has been on the rise since the 1980s; in fact, “state and federal incarceration rates grew by over 200 percent between 1980 and 1996” (Blumstein & Beck, 1999). The community has generally been uninterested in supporting any type of rehabilitation for prisoners, and mental illness often goes undiagnosed and untreated. Prisoners left untreated often get released back into society after serving time, only to commit more crimes and end up back in prison. In addition to the mentally ill inmates not receiving the treatment they need, many inmates have developed “severe depression, psychosis and even suicidal behavior” as a result of “incarceration and overcrowding” of prisons (IAFCP, 2007).
The IAFCP works with its affiliates to be a source of education regarding the mental health of prisoners and parolees. Their Web site has a multitude of information on, including information about membership, publications, and resources including job listings. This association is a convenient place for professionals to stay updated on new information and laws that pertain to psychology in forensics and corrections. The association aids professionals in developing treatment plans for individuals inside the corrections system, which could benefit someone just out of college who is looking to begin his or her career in the field of criminal psychology.
The tools and the guides are out there for the student looking to make the leap into a successful career. Their success, however, depends on their abilities and knowledge of the career they are getting into. For the individual aspiring to become a criminal psychologist, the IAFCP is an appropriate association to gain professional knowledge and skills.
References
Blumstein, A., & Beck, A. (1999). Population growth in u.s. prisons, 1980-1996 . Crime
and Justice, 26, 17-61.
(2007). International association for correctional and forensic psychology. Retrieved
July 9, 2009, from http://www.ia4cfp.org/index.php?submenu=Home&src=
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