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Unlicensed Interns to Perform Psych Tests on Utah Prisoners

Loaded on May 2, 2019 by Scott Grammer published in Prison Legal News May, 2019, page 25
Filed under: Misconduct/Corruption, Mental Health. Location: Utah.

by Scott Grammer

According to October 2018 news reports, Utah’s Department of Corrections wants to pay unlicensed interns to “train” at the Draper prison by administering psychological and IQ tests to prisoners in mental health and sex offender programs. Victor Kersey, Director of Institutional Programming for the Utah DOC, said “[i]t’s a great training, recruiting, and hiring pipeline. It’s a unique setting, it’s a setting that’s extremely diversified.”

But mental health professionals see things differently. 

“I don’t think undergrads should be performing psychological tests,” remarked Keith McGoldrick, a licensed psychologist, adding, “they don’t have the knowledge to administer that.”

Kersey, who oversees the mental health and sex offender treatment programs where the interns will be employed, said there is a training process and licensed supervisors meet with interns to review their work. 

“If there is a mistake made on behalf of an intern whether it’s a clinical mistake or a mistake made through an assessment then that liability falls on their licensed supervisor,” he said. 

However, McGoldrick noted that inaccurate data collection or an uncorrected mistake “could mean that someone could get improper treatment or may not receive treatment if something is missed.”

A request for proposal issued by the state indicated graduate students would be paid $19 per hour for working with prisoners while undergrads will receive $10 per hour. In Utah, licensed psychologists make $78,970 per year on average, or about $37.97 per hour. 

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Sources: kutv.com, psychologydegree411.com

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  1. News in Brief
  2. Former Angola Major Found Guilty – Twice – in Excessive Force Case, by Scott Grammer
  3. Report and Video of Arizona Prison Riot Released, by Matthew Clarke
  4. New York Prisoner Harassed and Assaulted by Guard Loses in Court of Claims
  5. Long-Term Recidivism Studies Show High Arrest Rates, by Matthew Clarke
  6. Eighth Circuit Affirms Denial of Summary Judgment in Failure to Protect Case
  7. Two-Year Investigation, Litigation and Settlement Ends Segregation, Mistreatment of LGBTQ Prisoners at California Jail, by Derek Gilna
  8. Major Prison Telecom Merger Canceled; Victory for Campaign for Prison Phone Justice!
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  10. BOP Official Who Ordered More Prisoners Sent to Private Prisons Hired by GEO Group, by Scott Grammer
  11. Meek Mill and Michael Rubin Start Criminal Justice Reform Organization, by Kevin W. Bliss
  12. Sixth Circuit Rejects Qualified Immunity for Jail Guard Accused of Sexual Abuse, by Matthew Clarke
  13. Federal Court Awards $3,750,000 in Damages for Sexual Assault by Prison Guards, by Chad Marks
  14. Prison Policy Initiative Issues Report on State of Prison Phone Justice, by Matthew Clarke
  15. Settlement Provides for Improved Competency Procedures for Jailed Mentally Ill in Washington State
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  17. Landlords Challenge Ordinance that Protects Former Prisoners’ Rental Rights, by Douglas Ankney
  18. Federal Prison Employee Sentenced for Defrauding Prisoners’ Families, by Scott Grammer
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  20. New Mexico Court Denies Motion to Dismiss Lawsuit Over Policy of Denying Transport to Medical Appointments During Lockdowns, by Matthew Clarke
  21. Judge Initially Plays Pass-the-Buck with Proposal to Hire Suicide Prevention Expert
  22. Kansas Slaps Corizon Health with Millions in Fines for Contract Violations, by Chad Marks
  23. Florida Fleeces Prisoners with High Canteen Prices, by Kevin W. Bliss
  24. Eleventh Circuit Agrees Prosecutor is Entitled to Qualified Immunity in Retaliation Case, by Chad Marks
  25. “Free” Prisoner-Made Furniture Gets Ohio Prison Industry Officials in Hot Water, by Chad Marks
  26. New York: 58-Month Prison Sentence for Former Jail Union Boss Who Took Bribes, by Chad Marks
  27. Lack of Outdoor Recreation for D.C. Jail Prisoners “Dehumanizing”, by Kevin W. Bliss
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  31. New York: Liability Established in Claim Over Assault by Prison Guard, by Matthew Clarke
  32. $301,000 Awarded in Lawsuit Over Suicide at Illinois Jail, by Kevin W. Bliss
  33. Cell Phones Sold in Commissary at South Carolina Jail, by Scott Grammer
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  36. New Jersey Prisoner Who Suggested Date to Nurse Has Disciplinary Action Reversed
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  42. Wrongful Death, Whistleblower Suits Filed After Prisoner Dies at New Orleans Jail, by David M. Reutter
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  50. Unlicensed Interns to Perform Psych Tests on Utah Prisoners, by Scott Grammer
  51. Hospice Programs Provided in Pennsylvania Prisons, by Ruth Hoskins
  52. CoreCivic Creates Nonprofit Foundation, Ostensibly to Reduce Recidivism, by Matthew Clarke
  53. Fifth Circuit Vacates Dismissal of Suit by Civilly Committed Sex Offender, by Matthew Clarke
  54. Claim Denied; No Proof New York Prison Guards Acted Within Scope of Their Employment
  55. Inspector General: California Prison Guards Violate Use of Force Policies Half the Time, by Steve Horn
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  57. Humane Treatment for Terminally Ill Prisoners, by Kevin W. Bliss
  58. The Uphill Road to Prisoners’ Rights, by F.T. Green
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  62. From the Editor, by Paul Wright
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