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Track Overview: (Two positions) 

 

Clinical Rotations and Patients: 

 

This internship track provides a unique training opportunity for interns with specific interests in forensic and correctional psychology, the relationship of law and public policy to professional practice, and correctional rehabilitation. Fifty percent of the intern’s time (20 hours per week) consists of training within the range of services offered to all interns of the UNC School of Medicine Clinical Psychology Internship Program with the remaining fifty percent spent at the Federal Correctional Complex (FCC) in nearby Butner, North Carolina. Butner is best known for high-publicity cases referred for forensic evaluation, but provides a broad spectrum of services to over 5200 adult inmates. Due to the tremendous resources in this area and the Butner site’s history of excellence, the Bureau of Prisons targeted the location for development of one of the first Federal Correctional Complexes. The 700 acre reservation includes 1200 and 1500 bed Medium Security Federal Correctional Institutions, a 1600 bed Low Security Correctional Institution, a 300 bed minimum security Federal Prison Camp, and a 900 bed Federal Medical Center for federal detainees.  The primary program faculty at FCC-Butner includes 28 fully credentialed, licensed psychologists with extensive experience in clinical and forensic practice. In addition to core faculty, the department includes a variety of treatment specialists and technicians. Adjunct faculty in psychiatry, general medicine, law, and social work also participate in the training program.  

 

The Butner program is guided by the philosophy that clinical practice within correctional and forensic settings requires the same core clinical skills and knowledge base as professional practice generally, but takes place within a complex legal, political, and social context. Two primary training objectives emerge from this philosophy. The first is to develop the intern’s competency in mainstream applied clinical skills such as psychological assessment, intervention, and consultation. The second is to impart a core knowledge base regarding the law, public policy, and social factors as they relate to the professional practice of psychology, and specifically in a correctional environment.  

 

Each of the two Clinical Forensic interns participate in two FCC programs, rotating at the mid-year point.  That is, each intern participates 20 hours per week in the Inpatient Forensic Program for six months and 20 hours per week with the FCI-I/FCI-II/LSCI General Population for the other six months. The interns’ 50% time in Chapel Hill is comprised of three, four-month rotations. 

 

 

 

 

Recommended Minor Rotations: 

 

  • Forensic Outpatient Assessment at Central Regional Hospital and Forensic <link> 

 

  • Consultation at the CIDD <link> 

 

  • Neuropsychology  <link> 

 

  • Crisis/ER services <Link> 

 

Didactics:  

 

Forensic Seminar series for Psychology Interns, focusing on professional, ethical, and legal issues. Presentations are normally scheduled on a weekly basis and last approximately one and a half hours, with time available for discussion. Most topics have identified readings from the professional literature. Seminar presentations are offered by Psychology Services staff, adjunct staff from this facility, and scholars and practitioners from the Research Triangle community. The series of presentations explores key areas in professional and ethical issues, criminal and civil law, public policy regarding mental health and mental disabilities, scholarship and research, and forensic and correctional psychology. This program also includes Mock Testimony exercises, with each trainee assuming the role of expert witness. Moot Court is held with our staff attorneys and psychologists serving as judge and attorneys. The forensic seminars also include periodic discussion sessions focusing on Landmark Cases in Mental Health Law. This portion of the program covers an extensive group of case law precedents pivotal in the evolution of mental health policy, including civil and criminal topics, juvenile and family law, civil commitment, right to treatment, informed consent and treatment refusal, disability and workplace discrimination, malpractice, and other areas of interest to clinicians. The specific calendar of seminar presentations will be issued to trainees as they begin the internship. 

Professional Development: 

 

Research Opportunities:  

 

[Description] 

 

Supervision Training and Opportunities: 

 

FCC interns participate at the FMC and FCI-I, FCI-II, and/or LSCI at various points in the training year. This plan assures exposure to a continuum of psychology services ranging from outpatient services through residential treatment programs to inpatient hospital facilities. The programs for training include: Correctional Psychology; Inpatient Forensic Evaluation, Chronic Mental Illness; Residential Drug Abuse; and Commitment and Treatment for Sexual Offenders.  

 

Interns at this site develop the essential skills for a Staff Psychologist in a mainstream correctional facility by completing a minimum of 500 hours of direct experience in a Correctional Psychology (CP) rotation. These experiences are obtained with general inmate populations at one of the complex facilities under the direct supervision of staff with primary responsibility as unit psychologist. Typical intern duties mirror those of entry-level staff, including completion of intake screenings, group and individual psychotherapy, crisis intervention, suicide risk assessment, and consultation with medical and psychiatric staff and members of unit teams.    

 

Track Coordinator: 

 

Gillespie Wadsworth, Psy.D. 

 

Special Considerations in Selections.  Clinical Forensic applicants should be aware that, if selected, additional civil service and other government personnel procedures will be required. Pursuant to Executive Order 11935, only United States citizens and nationals may compete for civil service jobs. Applicants must not have reached your 37th birthday (in accordance with Public Law 100-238) at the time of initial appointment (age waivers may be granted up to the age of 40). Further, applicants must have lived in the United States for 3 of the 5 years prior to the start of the internship year. Because the internship position is classified as “sensitive,” candidates must pass a pre-employment medical examination, drug screening, and background investigation. Final acceptance into either program option is contingent on satisfactory completion. As a condition of employment, male applicants born after December 31, 1959 must certify that they have registered with the Selective Service System, or are exempt from having to do so under the Selective Service Law. This position is a drug-testing designated position subject to random testing for illegal drug use. Once selected and enrolled, Interns must adhere to the requirements of the Program Statement (3420.09) titled, “Standards for Employee Conduct and Responsibility.” 

 

Candidates invited for interviews must complete pre-employment personnel procedures at this or another Bureau of Prisons facility to remain under consideration. These will be coordinated with UNC interview dates, and candidates involved should plan to spend the day at FCC-Butner on the day preceding scheduled interviews at UNC. Individuals who cannot reasonably travel to FCC-Butner may participate in a telephone interview with Psychology staff, and complete personnel procedures at a facility nearer their home or school. 

Applicants to be interviewed will submit forms SF-85P, “Questionnaire for Public Trust Positions” and OF-306, “Declaration for Federal Employment.” Law enforcement and credit checks will be completed prior to the interview. On site procedures include an integrity interview addressing issues of personal conduct and a panel interview in which applicants will be asked to respond to a number of scenarios that could arise in our facility. This information and these procedures are used to determine qualifications for a position of public trust and are required of all applicants for positions with the Bureau of Prisons.  *Further information about this program can be obtained by contacting Gillespie Wadsworth, Psy.D., Interim Director of Psychology Training, Federal Medical Center, Old Oxford Hwy NC 75, Butner, NC 27509 , Ph: 919-575-3900, ext. 5475, Fax: 919-575-4866. Email: gwadsworth@bop.gov 

 

Clinical Supervisors: 

 

Lauren A. Delk, Ph.D. 

Evan S. Du Bois, Psy.D. 

 

Brian C. Gray, Ph.D. 

Brianna Grover, Psy.D. 

Jill Haughawout, Psy.D. 

Ryan N. Koch, Psy. D. 

Kristina P. Lloyd, Psy.D., ABPP 

Estefania Masias, Psy.D. 

Robert Melin, Psy.D. 

Melanie Mivshek, Psy.D. 

Justin Rigsbee, Psy.D., Ph.D. 

Almamarina Robles, Psy.D. 

Heather Ross, Ph.D. 

Katie Stoler, Psy.D.