ABSTRACT
As prisons continue to be one of the largest providers of mental health services in the United States, the intersection between psychology, law, and the criminal justice system provides a need for an interdisciplinary approach to assessment and treatment. Correctional mental health and forensic psychology are significantly impacted by societal changes, and increasing attention is being paid to the role of imprisonment in the larger society of the United States and globally. Legal precedents are also always changing. The education and training of forensic psychologists prepare individuals for a unique and exciting career if they are willing to be flexible and recognize evolving areas of need. This chapter outlines several emerging areas of need areas for the expertise of forensic psychologists, such as competency, malingering, and working with special populations as well as other opportunities for forensic psychologists to engage in the field of correctional mental health.
