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 An agency of the U.S. Department of Justice
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An agency of the U.S. Department of Justice
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Predoctoral Internship Program We are delighted that you are considering the Federal Bureau of Prisons as a possible internship training site for the upcoming year. This page will give you a brief overview of the Bureau and its Psychology Internship Training Program, as well as instructions on how to apply for an internship position.
Psychology Predoctoral Internship Program Psychology Predoctoral Internship Program top Over the past 30 years, the Bureau has trained more than 400 doctoral-level psychologists, and each of the 9 Psychology Predoctoral Internship Programs continues this commitment to training by providing eligible clinical and counseling graduate students with a well-rounded, high-quality experience. Each program endeavors to prepare interns for entry-level service as a practicing clinical or counseling psychologist. While individual training sites employ different training models to achieve this objective, all training sites have several common features. Interns receive graduated exposure to the clinician role, practicing with greater independence as their skills increase, always with supervisors available for consultation. Training includes both individualized and group supervision; assignment of challenging, culturally diverse therapeutic cases; and a sequence of didactic seminars designed to increase each intern’s general knowledge, as well as his/her understanding of the specialized issues involved in the practice of correctional psychology. Practice in psychological assessment and opportunities to engage in research or other scholarly activities are also included in the internship year. In addition, individual training sites may also provide interns with special training opportunities unique to that site. For example, some sites offer experience in such specialty areas as forensic assessment, substance abuse treatment, or behavioral medicine. Other sites may expose interns to special treatment populations such as geriatric, female, HIV+, or violent offenders. For more than 30 years, the Federal Bureau of Prisons has relied upon the internship program to provide the agency with uniquely qualified entry-level psychologists. Interns who have proven themselves to be competent clinicians and who are comfortable working within the correctional setting are often recruited by the Bureau at the end of their internship year. To be eligible for an entry-level psychology position with the Bureau, interns must have completed all doctoral degree requirements, be U.S. citizens and not have reached their 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). Application Requirements top Intern selection at each training site is based largely on breadth and quality of clinical experience, demonstrated academic achievement, consistency of interests with the training goals of the program, personal integrity, and maturity. Selections and the offer of positions at each site are made in strict accordance with the policies of the Association of Postdoctoral and Psychology Internship Center’s (APPIC) Internship Matching Program. For a detailed description of these policies and procedures, refer to APPIC's website. These internship sites agree to abide by the APPIC policy that no person at these training facilities will solicit, accept, or use any ranking-related information from any intern applicant. Applicants for Bureau internship positions should also be aware that they are applying for a position in a Federal law enforcement agency. Therefore, selection entails not only demonstration of exceptional qualifications as a "psychologist in training," but also suitability for work in a position of public trust. In general, Bureau employees, including psychology interns, are held to a high standard of personal conduct and responsibility and are expected to be law-abiding citizens who can serve as strong role models for the inmate population. During the selection process, applicants must satisfactorily pass a security clearance procedure that includes a personal interview, a background investigation, and a drug test. If you are applying to more than one internship site, you should only have to complete this process once. Results of the security clearance procedures will be shared with other sites for your convenience. Internship Application Procedures top Individuals interested in a psychology internship position at any of the Bureau’s training sites should complete each of the following steps: 1. Complete the APPIC Application for Psychology Internship materials (including the Practicum Documentation and Professional Conduct forms) and have your graduate school complete the Verification of Internship Eligibility and Readiness Form. These documents are disseminated by APPIC in various word processor formats. They may also be available through your graduate school. The application must bear original signatures and dates in ink, including those portions completed by others, such as the readiness form. 2. Request that official transcripts of all graduate work be sent directly to each training site. 3. Complete a Government employment application form (commonly referred to as an OF-612) or send a copy of your vitae. If you send a copy of your vitae, be sure that it includes all information requested on the OF-612. OF-612 forms may be obtained at any Government employment office or via the OPM's website. If you choose to use the OF-612, you will list "Psychology Intern" in Box 1 and leave Boxes 2 and 3 empty. 4. Submit at least three letters of reference. If you want your Director of Training to also serve as a reference, have her/him write a traditional letter of reference with a narrative account of your abilities and characteristics. 5. Submit one work sample. This should be an assessment report regarding an adult client that addresses, at a minimum, background information, current behavioral observations, results of a battery of psychological tests, and formulation of the case. Choose this case carefully and take appropriate steps to protect the anonymity of the subject. Some training sites may require more than one work sample. 6. Complete any supplemental application materials requested by individual training sites. Specific supplemental application materials for each site will be listed in the descriptive Program Brochure for that site. Links to each site’s Program Brochure are provided below. Each Bureau training site considers and ranks application materials separately. Therefore, all application materials should be mailed directly to each site in which you are interested by their deadline. Applicants are encouraged to submit materials as early as possible. Late applications will not be considered. Applicants will be notified by mail when their application is complete. Candidates being asked to interview as well as candidates not under serious consideration will be notified of their status by December 10. A limited number of applicants will be invited for interviews, which are generally in December and January. Additional Security Clearance Application Procedures top Candidates invited for an interview with training site psychology staff will also be required to participate in a standard law enforcement pre-employment screening procedure. As noted, this process should only need to be completed once. Results will be shared with other Bureau internship sites for your convenience. To facilitate this process, applicants will be asked to bring completed Government forms SF-85-P, "Questionnaire for Public Trust Positions," and OF-306, "Declaration for Federal Employment," to their first interview at a Bureau internship training site. Personnel staff may be in contact with applicants prior to the interview to gather specific information needed to complete criminal record and credit checks. Onsite personnel procedures include an integrity interview addressing issues of personal conduct and a panel interview in which you will be asked to respond to a number of scenarios that could arise in a correctional facility. These procedures are used to determine your qualifications for a position of public trust and are required of all applicants seeking employment with the Federal Bureau of Prisons. Applicants who want copies of Forms SF-85-P and OF-306 or who wish to review questions asked on these forms prior to beginning the application process may contact the Office of Personnel Management. If your review raises any question as to whether you would qualify for a law enforcement position, you should seek further information from Bureau of Prisons personnel specialists at any of the sites at which you are interested to determine the advisability of continuing with the application process. Psychology staff are not able to advise you regarding these questions. Any questions you may have should be resolved prior to submitting your list for matching. Offers of internship positions resulting from the computer match are strictly contingent upon satisfactory completion of the background investigation process. For individuals selected through the matching process, a field investigation will follow to verify that the information provided in interviews and on required forms is accurate. Failure to complete this process or a finding that an applicant is outside the guidelines for employment in a sensitive position would preclude participation in the program. Once hired, interns must comply with the Bureau's Program Statement on Standards of Employee Conduct and Responsibility. The foregoing is not intended to discourage applications, but to ensure that applicants are aware of the additional law enforcement requirements that will be imposed on them should they wish to pursue a Bureau of Prisons Internship position. Internship Training Sites and Program Descriptions top The Bureau of Prisons has 9 Predoctoral Psychology Internship Training sites. All sites are fully accredited by APA. Interested individuals may learn more about the unique training opportunities at each site by viewing these files in Adobe Acrobat [.pdf] format. 1. Federal Correctional Complex, Butner, North Carolina. 2. Federal Medical Center, Carswell, Texas. 3. Federal Medical Center, Devens, Massachusetts. 4. Federal Correctional Institution, Fort Worth, Texas. 5. Federal Medical Center, Lexington, Kentucky. 6. Metropolitan Detention Center, Los Angeles, California. 7. Federal Medical Center, Rochester, Minnesota. 8. U.S. Medical Center for Federal Prisoners, Springfield, Missouri. |
