Correctional Psychology

Correctional psychology is an applied branch of psychology that works within prisons, jails, and juvenile detention facilities to assess, treat, and support the people held there. Psychologists in this field work to understand the root causes of criminal behavior, provide mental health care, and help people successfully reintegrate into society after release. People in correctional settings experience mental health challenges at rates far higher than the general population, making this work both a matter of human dignity and public safety. The field is grounded in the belief that people have the capacity to change, and that punishment alone is rarely enough to break cycles of harmful behavior.