A penologist is a person who studies criminal justice systems, management, reform, criminal punishment, and rehabilitation in order to combat criminal activity. Penologists usually work in prisons or correctional facilities alongside other law enforcement professionals such as wardens, prison guards, probation officers, and criminologists. Penologists are typically in charge of a variety of tasks, ranging from designing and implementing self-help programs for inmates to making recommendations for changes to prison policy, all of which are intended to benefit the inmates and, by extension, the prison community by reducing anti-social behavior and making prison professionals’ jobs easier. Certain qualifications are required to become a penologist, including an undergraduate degree, patience, perseverance, and unflappability.
To work as a penologist, a person typically needs at least a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice, criminology, justice administration, or psychology. Criminal justice and justice administration are frequently chosen because they provide the specific skills required in the prison or correctional system. You will learn about the various aspects of imprisonment in such programs, including the reasons for imprisonment, the history of prisons and the criminal justice system, prison life, and administrative issues like budgeting and overcrowding. You’ll also learn about the various causes and types of illegal behavior, as well as the lengths and types of punishments imposed, state and federal laws, and important political issues affecting the prison system, such as the death penalty.
However, the field of psychology should not be overlooked if one wishes to become a penologist. Psychology is a branch of social science that studies human behavior. As a result, the penologist functions in a similar capacity to a psychologist in that he or she assesses criminal behavior in order to determine the best course of action. Attention span, cognition, emotion, perception, motivation, personality, and interpersonal relationships are some of the phenomena that such criminologists may learn how to study. This is done in order to better understand why criminals act in such a way. You’ll need to major in psychology in college if you want to be a penologist who focuses on the psychological aspects of criminal rehabilitation.
As a penologist, you’ll work with a wide range of people, including those who have serious social, drug, or mental issues. Indeed, some inmates may act aggressively toward you, sometimes without provocation, and some professionals with whom you work may not always be receptive to your ideas. To work as a penologist, you’ll need a lot of patience, perseverance, and unflappability, especially in situations where things are constantly changing.