PSYCHOLOGICAL RESOURCES IN AUSTRALASIAN CORRECTIONAL DEPARTMENTS

The past and present delivery of psychological services to correctiona l departments in Australia and New Zealand was surveyed via questionna ires. Responses were received from six of the eight Australian jurisdi ctions surveyed and the one New Zealand department. Considerable varia tion in size and range of service was evident. Clinical work, particul arly treatment, was the central activity in all cases. Recent developm ents, such as larger-scale treatment programs for special groups (e.g. , sex offenders) and contributions to overall correctional management were reported by some respondents. The restructuring of psychology sec tions in some departments had produced problems in relations between p sychologists and their employing departments. Similarities in developm ents and issues in correctional psychology in the United States, Engla nd, and Wales were noted.