MCC Chicago was opened in 1975, as a project developed from the vision of US District Judge William J. Campbell. The vision of MCC Chicago was to allow the US Marshals Service (USMS) to house pretrial detainees close to the federal courthouse, allowing those detained to have convenient access to their attorneys and to the courts. The BOP was tasked with the management of this facility, making it a multiagency collaboration involving the BOP, US District Courts, and the USMS. More than 45 years later, MCC Chicago continues to be regarded as a model for pretrial detention of federal detainees who are awaiting disposition of their court cases. Since the establishment of this detention center, the mission has grown in dynamic ways. In response to the changing dynamics of those incarcerated, the BOP and MCC Chicago have adapted the provision of mental health services to meet those changes.

MCC Chicago has several missions and purposes. The institution houses four distinct populations: male pretrial detainees, a work cadre of individuals serving their prison sentence, individuals in holdover status, and a small unit of female pretrial detainees. This facility also serves as a regional transit hub used by both the BOP and the USMS. This means there are hundreds of incarcerated individuals each year who are in transit status, some of whom display difficulties with acute adjustment while they are in transit. Additionally, many of these individuals are coming from various county jails and sometimes state prisons in other jurisdictions who have different standards of mental health care. MCC Chicago often serves as the first point of contact with the BOP, and the Psychology Services staff often serve a critical role of identifying and initiating treatment for those in a transit status.

The MCC also has a strong and long-standing forensic mission. This facility, based on its location and other missions, is an ideal site for forensic evaluations. As a result, the MCC receives referrals for forensic examinations from all 92 US District Court jurisdictions. The primary forensic questions which require assessment are most frequently related to 18 USC 4241(b) and 4242(b): competency to stand trial and criminal responsibility. A variety of other forensic questions are asked, but on a less frequent basis. Due to the long history of forensic examinations and strong team of evaluators, the BOP has recently tasked MCC Chicago with an additional mission; Jail Based Competency Restoration. This pilot program is designed to increase the treatment capacity of the BOP, enabling the agency to address the treatment needs of those identified with serious mental illness in a timely manner. This program is expected to roll out in late 2022. MCC Chicago also has a long history of training psychology students and providing pathways to employment in the BOP. The practicum program at the MCC has been in operation for more than 30 years, typically with four practicum students each year. Since tracking student progress over the last 15 years, the MCC has helped train more than 30 students who have ultimately become employed at the BOP. As student training has been one of the foundational pieces of the Psychology Services Department, we are excited about the new Doctoral Internship Program!

MCC Chicago has a unique set of programs which differentiates it from other BOP Psychology Internships. The MCC is primarily a pretrial detention center and offers different programs to those who are held in custody. The group programs are largely based around short-term psychoeducational groups, as the population at this facility is dynamic and changes rapidly. This gives interns the opportunity to develop skills related to the provision of meaningful services for those who will be in custody for only a short period of time. The MCC also has a strong forensic program which dates back to the 1990s. This gives interns the opportunity to see the intersection of mental health assessment and law. Based on the new mission, Jail Based Competency Restoration, interns will also have the opportunity to gain experience with the intersection of mental health treatment and law. Training is designed to provide an understanding of the totality of the process when individuals with severe mental illness are charged with a criminal offense, identified as having psychological concerns, as well as how to formulate diagnoses and effective treatment strategies.

Interns will have access to psychologists from a wide variety of backgrounds for consultation and clinical supervision. The Psychology Department at MCC Chicago currently consists of a Chief Psychologist, an Internship Program Coordinator, six Forensic Studies Unit Psychologists, a Drug Abuse Program Coordinator, an Advanced Care Level Psychologist, and a Staff Psychologist.