Its goal is to reduce the risk of offender misconduct and thus to improve public safety.
[1] Other objectives of correctional psychology include contributing to the safety and well-being of staff and offenders by meeting standards of care for mentally ill individuals, reducing conflict, and creating, monitoring, and providing treatment and rehabilitation programs.
[2] In the 1900s, the bulk of work under correctional psychology was deciphering who was “feeble minded” and who would most likely have a long life of committing crimes.
Eleanor Rowland was the first psychologist who determined which offenders could benefit from being placed in programs, and who could be safely returned to society.
In 1924, Wisconsin became the first state to allow psychological evaluations in its prison systems, and to implement applications for parole.