2010 MHCC CONFERENCE IN CHICAGO: Highlights focus on community issues.
Richard Althouse, Ph.D.
President, IACFP
This year’s Mental Health in Corrections Consortium conference, sponsored by the Forest Institute, Adler, and Chicago schools of professional psychology, was held at the Renaissance Blackstone Hotel in downtown Chicago April 12th through 14th. I was privileged to MC the conference, and I can say that Jennifer Baker, and her assistant, Phyllis Beckman, did a great job of organizing this conference, including arranging for the plenary and luncheon speakers, workshops, and student poster awards.
Given that a number of states are faced with releasing thousands of prisoners back to their communities to help relieve overcrowding, reintegration challenges are now becoming more prominent in the research and corrections literature. That was no less true for this conference and its plenary speakers. Richard Hart spoke of how staff at the Chicago Salvation Army prepares its staff to work with mentally ill offenders returning to Chicago. David Delmonico and Elizabeth Griffin informed attendees about how to understand sex offenders who use the internet (an extremely eye-opening and information-packed presentation). Joel Dvoskin, in his provocative presentation “Psychology, Crime and Punishment: We couldn’t do it worse if we tried,” talked about how psychology has dropped the ball in helping corrections use well-known psychological principles in re-shaping offender behaviors.
The majority of workshops focused on sex offender issues or community safety concerns. Some participants were able to take a tour of the nearby Salvation Army facility and learn how this agency helps returning offenders, some of whom are mentally ill, reintegrate into the community. Others learned of a volunteer mentoring program in Toronto that monitored sex offenders 24/7 in the interests of community safety, or about how communities might use Regional Assessment Centers as alternatives to re-incarceration.
Attendees could also learn about a shift in conceptualizing treatment for sex offenders, replacing relapse prevention models with self-regulation combine with good-lives models.
The The MHCC conference is also well-known for its student poster contest, in which students of the various professional schools present posters summarizing research on selected topics of interest. I was among the three judges who selected the top 7 posters, and those students received a financial award. This year, six students received a $500 award, and one (Rich Mulrenin, from Forest Institute) a $1000 award. IACFP contributed funds to help sponsor these student awards.
All in all, it was a great conference, and plans are already underway for next year’s conference. The conference will again be in Chicago, and continue to focus on the latest issues and concerns of community reintegration.
Tuesday, April 27, 2010
Friday, April 23, 2010
William Josef Berkley Final Words: 'Let It Rip' - News Story - KFOX El Paso
William Josef Berkley Final Words: 'Let It Rip' - News Story - KFOX El Paso
From Fox14: "HUNTSVILLE, Texas -- The man convicted of killing 18-year-old Sophia Martinez in 2000 has been executed by lethal injection at a prison in Huntsville."
Sixth Texas prisoner put to death this year...thoughts?
From Fox14: "HUNTSVILLE, Texas -- The man convicted of killing 18-year-old Sophia Martinez in 2000 has been executed by lethal injection at a prison in Huntsville."
Sixth Texas prisoner put to death this year...thoughts?
Monday, April 12, 2010
Symposium :: Mental Health in Corrections Conference
MHCC in Chicago this week; Dr. Althouse and Tom Mankowski will both be in attendance, let them know if you'll be stopping by. Some great information to be sure, I'll post the links below.
"Symposium :: Mental Health in Corrections Conference: "MHCC 2010 Conference Brochure [PDF]
The goal of the MHCC annual conference is to provide quality continuing education for correctional mental health professionals. An additional goal is the development of connections to academic institutions and students, whom are the future of correctional mental health."
On a more personal note, a fellow editor, Leigh Star of ST&HV has passed. Our thoughts are with her and her family. http://www.ischool.pitt.edu/news/03-25-2010.php
"Symposium :: Mental Health in Corrections Conference: "MHCC 2010 Conference Brochure [PDF]
The goal of the MHCC annual conference is to provide quality continuing education for correctional mental health professionals. An additional goal is the development of connections to academic institutions and students, whom are the future of correctional mental health."
On a more personal note, a fellow editor, Leigh Star of ST&HV has passed. Our thoughts are with her and her family. http://www.ischool.pitt.edu/news/03-25-2010.php
Friday, April 9, 2010
Budget Would Open New Prison, End Scholarships - Politics News Story - KMGH Denver
Budget Would Open New Prison, End Scholarships - Politics News Story - KMGH Denver:
"Budget Would Open New Prison, End Scholarships
Budget Would Drain $45.2 Million Trust Fund For Scholarships
POSTED: 8:32 am MDT April 9, 2010
DENVER -- State senators have given initial backing to a proposed $18.2 billion budget for next year.
The Senate voted Thursday evening to support the budget, which has already passed the House. It faces another vote Friday.
Some Democrats tried but failed to block $9.4 million from being spent to open a solitary confinement unit at the Colorado State Penitentiary. They wanted the money for treatment for things such as mental illness and substance abuse"
"Budget Would Open New Prison, End Scholarships
Budget Would Drain $45.2 Million Trust Fund For Scholarships
POSTED: 8:32 am MDT April 9, 2010
DENVER -- State senators have given initial backing to a proposed $18.2 billion budget for next year.
The Senate voted Thursday evening to support the budget, which has already passed the House. It faces another vote Friday.
Some Democrats tried but failed to block $9.4 million from being spent to open a solitary confinement unit at the Colorado State Penitentiary. They wanted the money for treatment for things such as mental illness and substance abuse"
Wednesday, April 7, 2010
Centre for Public Policy Seminars
Here's a little info for our overseas members, the Centre for Public Policy Seminars. This organization puts together some great seminars and I encourage you to check their site. Coming up...
"How Should We Most Effectively Tackle Domestic Violence, Abuse And Sexual Exploitation?
This Seminar will be held at The Queens Hotel in Leeds on Wednesday 28th April 2010, click here for details.
"How Should We Most Effectively Tackle Domestic Violence, Abuse And Sexual Exploitation?
This Seminar will be held at The Queens Hotel in Leeds on Wednesday 28th April 2010, click here for details.
Monday, April 5, 2010
ATSA Conference
A little information I wanted to pass on about another great conference:
ATSA's 29th Annual Conference: Transformation
Phoenix, Arizona
"The 29th Annual Research and Treatment Conference sponsored by the Association for the Treatment of Sexual Abusers will be held at the Sheraton Phoenix Downtown Hotel in Phoenix, Arizona, October 20 through 23, 2010. This conference will offer symposia, workshop presentations, poster sessions, discussion groups, and advanced clinics relating to issues."
Our IACFP liaison Tom Mankowski will be attending; shoot him an email if you will be as well, maybe he'll buy you coffee.
ATSA's 29th Annual Conference: Transformation
October 20 – 23, 2010
Sheraton Phoenix Downtown HotelPhoenix, Arizona
"The 29th Annual Research and Treatment Conference sponsored by the Association for the Treatment of Sexual Abusers will be held at the Sheraton Phoenix Downtown Hotel in Phoenix, Arizona, October 20 through 23, 2010. This conference will offer symposia, workshop presentations, poster sessions, discussion groups, and advanced clinics relating to issues."
Our IACFP liaison Tom Mankowski will be attending; shoot him an email if you will be as well, maybe he'll buy you coffee.
Eric G. Mart, Ph.D., Licensed Psychologist
There'd been some recent dialogue about Child Custody; Eric Mart has been posting some great advice on the PsyLaw listserv.
Eric has a site, Highland Psychological Services; see below or follow the link.
Eric G. Mart, Ph.D., Licensed Psychologist
Here's a bit from the site about Highland Forensic Psychology Services:
"Providing expert Consultation, psychological assessment and expert testimony to courts in New England and throughout the United States
Here's a bit from the site about Highland Forensic Psychology Services:
"Providing expert Consultation, psychological assessment and expert testimony to courts in New England and throughout the United States
- State of the art, comprehensive assessments focused on the referral questions
- Reports in plain English that are easy for judges, attorneys, guardians ad litem and other interested parties to understand
- Rapid completion of evaluations
- High impact testimony from experts with decades of experience"
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