For my evaluation I have chosen to work with Sussex 2 State Prison. I have been given permission to speak with some of the correctional officers, but I am not allowed to speak with any of the inmates. Sussex 2 State Prison is a Virginia state prison located in Waverly, that houses maximum security inmates that are serving long sentences or life sentences. The prison also houses those that have had disciplinary issues in lower-level facilities. The facility provides basic physical, mental, and dental health care (PrisonPro, 2011-2012).

In my future work in human services, I would like to work with those that are in the high-risk community; for example, those that have a higher chance of committing crimes or using drugs. With that being said, I decided to evaluate Sussex 2 State Prison because the inmates are members of the high-risk community, and I am interested in the correctional facilities and the impact they have on inmate mental health. I would like to ask questions that would gain me insight into how the guards are instructed to handle mental health emergencies, what mental health programs are in place for the inmates to use, how often the inmates are allowed to uses these services, and if the correctional officers feel that the programs are helpful in controlling mental health emergencies or preventing reoffending, if an inmate is released.

Although I will be focusing primarily on the mental health of the inmates, I also want to learn about the mental health services that are available for the employees. The correctional officers and medical staff have a difficult job, working with inmates, that can take a toll on their mental health. As a result, the employees can start to treat the inmates and each other in less than respectful ways. I want to make sure that the employees have the necessary skills and resources to deal with their difficult jobs.

References

PrisonPro. (2011-2012). Sussex 2 State Prison. Retrieved from PrisonPro: https://www.prisonpro.com/content/sussex-ii-state-prison