The History and Future of Correctional Psychology

Philip R. Magaletta, PhD, retired as the Chief of Clinical Education and Workforce Development for the Psychology Services Branch, Federal Bureau of Prisons, U.S. Department of Justice. He currently works as a Lead Scientist at ICF.  He has administered and practiced correctional psychology for nearly two decades and is an author and co-editor of “The Practice of Correctional Psychology” published by Springer.  He served as a faculty associate at Johns Hopkins University, as a Professorial Lecturer at George Washington University, and has lectured around the United States and Internationally.  A graduate of University of Scranton, Magaletta earned his M.A. from Loyola College in Maryland and his Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from St. Louis University.  Early in his career, he was selected for the Myrl E. Alexander Award, a national award issued by the Bureau of Prisons for developing new techniques in correctional programs and implementing innovative correctional procedures.  He was selected as a fellow in the American Psychological Association’s Division of Public Service Psychologists and was also awarded the Division’s Distinguished Career Award in 2015.  His current interests include correctional and military psychological health and service delivery and workforce development, addictions, spirituality, and telehealth.  

Marguerite Ternes, PhD joined the Psychology Department at Saint Mary’s University in July 2014, after working for several years for the Correctional Service of Canada’s research branch. Meg completed her B.A. at St. Francis Xavier University in 2001, then went on to complete an M.A. (2003) and Ph.D. (2009) in Forensic Psychology at the University of British Columbia. She is an author and co-editor of “The Practice of Correctional Psychology” published by Springer.  Her research interests include substance use and addiction, correctional psychology, credibility assessment, eyewitness memory, and investigative interviewing.

Marc W. Patry, PhD is Professor of Psychology at Saint Mary’s University in Halifax, Nova Scotia. In 2001 he received a Master of Legal Studies and a Ph.D. in Social Psychology from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. After leaving UNL, he worked for four years as Assistant Professor at his undergraduate alma mater, Castleton State College in Vermont. He is an author and co-editor of “The Practice of Correctional Psychology” published by Springer.  He has been a faculty member at Saint Mary’s University since 2005. His current research includes work on interrogations and confessions, eyewitness memory, law and public policy, and correctional psychology.