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Site Name: Federal Bureau of Prisons-FCI Danbury

Department: Psychology Services

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Department : Psychology Services

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Member Site Information
APPIC Member Number: 2544
Program Type: Internship
Membership Type: Full Membership
Site: Federal Bureau of Prisons-FCI Danbury
Department: Psychology Services
Address: 33 1/2 Pembroke Station
Route 37
Danbury, Connecticut 06811
Country: United States
Metro Area: New York-Northern New Jersey-Long Island, NY-NJ-PA
Distance from Major City: 50 miles north of New York City
Phone: 203-743-6471x5219
Fax:
Training Director Email: czimmermann@bop.gov
Co-Training Director Email:
Web Address: https://www.bop.gov/jobs/positions/index.jsp?p=psychology_internships
Brochure Website's Address: https://www.bop.gov/jobs/docs/dan_internship_brochure.pdf
Primary Agency Type: Prison or Other Correctional Facility
Additional Agency Types:
  • Prison or Other Correctional Facility
Member of APPIC since:
Accreditation
APA Accreditation Accredited on Contingency
CPA Accreditation Not Accredited
Internship Staff/Faculty Information
Training Director: Carey Zimmermann
Chief Psychologist: Carey Zimmermann
Number of Full-Time Licensed Doctoral Psychologists on Staff/Faculty 8
Number of Part-Time Licensed Doctoral Psychologists on Staff/Faculty 0
Position Information
Start Date: 08/10/2025
Funded
Number of Full Time Slots Expected Next Class: 4
Number of Part Time Slots Expected Next Class: 0
Stipend
Full Time Annual Stipend for Next Class: 72796
Part Time Annual Stipend for Next Class: 0
Fringe Benefits: Comp Time , Dissertation Release Time, Dental Insurance, Health Insurance, Life Insurance, Professional Development Time, Sick Leave, Vacation
Other Fringe Benefits (not indicated above): Eleven (11) paid federal holidays
Brief description of the typical work day for an intern at this training site Interns are involved in a variety of clinical activities each day to include substance use treatment, trauma treatment, general mental health counseling, suicide risk assessments, crisis calls, individual and group therapy, and various assessments. The typical workday starts at 7:00AM and ends at 3:30PM, which includes a 30-minute unpaid lunch break.
Does this site have practicum psychology students on site? No
Is this program fully affiliated with one or more doctoral programs? No
Is this program partially affiliated with one or more doctoral programs? No
Internship Application Process
Accepting Applicants: Yes
Application Due Date: 11/01/2024 11:59 PM EST
Interview notification date: 12/09/2024
Tentative interview date: N/A
Interview process description:

Applicants will be notified prior to December 9, 2024 whether they will be scheduled for an interview at FCI Danbury. 

Due to the nature of the Bureau of Prison's hiring process, you will need to complete an in-person Core Values Assessment (CVA) and a pre-employment integrity interview. These interviews must be completed on site at FCI Danbury or at another federal correctional institution convenient to the applicant. These interviews may take 2 to 3 hours. These procedures are used to determine your qualifications for a position of public trust and are required of all applicants seeking employment with the Federal Bureau of Prisons. Because results of the security clearance procedures can be shared with other Bureau internship sites for your convenience, you will only need to complete this portion of the interview once. However, if you fail any portion of this security clearance, you will no longer be considered at any of the other BOP internship sites.

After successful completion of the on-site interview, a psychology-related interview will be conducted. Specifically, each applicant will be scheduled to participate in an interview with FCI Danbury Psychology Services staff. This portion may be done virtually if necessary. The interview will highlight aspects of the department and the internship program at FCI Danbury. This will also allow applicants to meet and interact with supervisory psychologists. Interviews typically take place in January.

 
How to obtain application info: Email the Program
Preferred method of contacting the program: Email the Program
We have matched with interns from these programs: University of Hartford, Graduate Institute of Professional Psychology Fielding Graduate University Yeshiva University Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine
Internship Applicant Requirements
US Citizenship Required: Yes
If NOT a U.S. Citizen, Authorization to Work or to Engage in Practical Training (CPT or OPT) in the US is Required: No
Canadian Citizenship Required: No
If NOT a Canadian Citizen, Authorization to Work in Canada or to Engage in Practical Training (CPT or OPT) in Canada is Required: No
Masters Degree Required: No
Comprehensive Exams Passed: Yes, by ranking deadline
Dissertation Proposal Approved: Yes, by ranking deadline
Dissertation Defended: No
Minimum Number of AAPI Intervention Hours (if applicable): 320
Minimum Number of AAPI Assessment Hours (if applicable): 80
Minimum Number of Combined Intervention and Assessment Hours (if applicable):
Does your program require applicants to submit supplemental materials (i.e., an assessment report and/or a case/treatment summary):
Minimum Number of Years of Grad Training Required (if applicable): 3
Accepted / Not-Accepted Program Types
Clinical Psychology Accepted
Counseling Psychology Accepted
School Psychology Not Accepted
APA-Accredited Accepted
CPA-Accredited Not Accepted
PCSAS-Accredited
Non-Accredited Not Accepted
Ph.D Degree Accepted
Psy.D. Degree Accepted
Ed.D. Degree Not Accepted
This institution, department, internship, or postdoctoral program requires trainees to sign a statement about personal behavior and/or religious beliefs as a condition of admission and/or retention in the program: No
How to obtain text of statement:
Other Requirements: BOP Internship Page: https://www.bop.gov/jobs/positions/index.jsp?p=psychology_internships FCI Danbury Internship Brochure: https://www.bop.gov/jobs/docs/dan_internship_brochure.pdf
Program Description

FCI Danbury is a proud member of the Bureau’s Northeast Region. The institution is comprised of a low-security FCI housing male offenders, a Federal Satellite Low (FSL) housing female offenders, and a minimum-security Federal Prison Camp (FPC) housing female offenders.  

The Federal Correctional Institution, located in Danbury, Connecticut, was opened on August 6, 1940, as a minimum security facility for men. In 1982, the Federal Prison Camp was established adjacent to the FCI. Other than the foundation, the Camp was constructed entirely by staff and inmate workers. The FPC was re-designated as a female facility in 1988.  In February 1994, the FCI was re-designated as a female facility. It reverted back to a male facility in 2014. The LeRoy S. Sipe Training Center was completed in August 1990, with the Wee Wisdom Day Care (now closed) located on the main floor. FCI Danbury was the first facility in the Bureau to establish a day care program for staff. In 2017, FSL Danbury opened as the first institution to introduce the FIT (Female Integrated Treatment) Program. This  was the BOP's first ever programming facility, where the entire FSL is considered a therapeutic community including a Residential Drug Abuse Program, a Mental Health Step Down Program, a Resolve Program (trauma treatment) and a Peer Support Program, and all incarcerated individuals housed there are involved in some aspect of treatment. 

The Psychology Department at FCI Danbury has one Chief Psychologist, one Psychology Technician, one Staff Psychologists, one Internship Program Coordinator, one Resolve (trauma) Coordinator, one Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT) Coordinator, one Skills Coordinator, two Skills Treatment Specialists, a Drug Abuse Program Coordinator, four Drug Treatment Specialists, one FIT Program Coordinator, one FIT Psychologist, and four FIT Treatment Specialists.  When all positions are filled the total staff compliment is 20.

Psychology staff members conduct initial psychological screenings of all arriving incarcerated individuals and provide recommendations to unit teams regarding mental health program needs. Direct services are provided in the forms of evaluation, crisis intervention, brief counseling, and individual or group therapy. We consult with staff in evaluating incarcerated individuals with behavioral or other adjustment problems to ensure proper management. We monitor the adjustment of all incarcerated individuals with serious mental health conditions. Psychological services within this institution are designed to ensure that every incarcerated individual with a documented need and/or interest in psychological treatment has access to a level of care comparable to that available in the community.

The Psychology Services Department has private offices for assessment and treatment, larger rooms for groups, and a conference room/staff lounge area.  There is also office and group space available on all Specialty Units. There are regularly scheduled psychologist and staff meetings to help promote a professional treatment atmosphere and foster close working and collegial relationships between staff.

Psychology Services offers many resources. Incarcerated individuals are able to check out books from the psychology library as well as Playaways (pre-loaded audio listening devices). There are various workbooks that are provided to incarcerated individuals. Some topics for these workbooks include anger management, core skills, family values, life skills, social skills, and seeking employment. Additionally, the Psychology Department has a library specifically for testing materials.

The Psychology Services Department is decentralized within the institution, with most of the offices being spread out around the compound. This allows clinicians the opportunity to be close to their assigned caseloads and to foster close working relationships with colleagues from other departments. The Doctoral Psychology Internship Program has a designated area that includes office space for the interns and the Internship Program Coordinator, conference room, testing library and group rooms. All staff and interns have computer workstations with network and internet access. 

The updated, 2025-2026, brochure is expected to be available online by October 1, 2024.  If you would like to receive a copy before then, please contact Dr. Zimmermann at czimmermann@bop.gov.

 

 

Internship Training Opportunities

Populations
Infants:
Toddlers:
Children:
Adolescents:
Adults: Yes
Family:
Older Adults: Yes
Inpatients: Yes
Outpatients: Yes
LGBTQ+: Yes
Ethnic minorities: Yes
Spanish-speaking: Yes
French-speaking:
Deaf/Hearing-impaired:
Students:
International Students:
Rural:
Urban:
Low income: Yes
People without housing: Yes
Other:

(training opportunities continued)

Treatment Modalities
Assessment: Major Area of Study (50% or Greater)
Individual Therapy: Major Area of Study (50% or Greater)
Couples Therapy:
Family Therapy:
Group Therapy: Major Area of Study (50% or Greater)
Community Intervention:
Consultation/Liaison: Emphasis (31% to 49%)
Crisis Intervention: Emphasis (31% to 49%)
Brief Psychotherapy: Emphasis (31% to 49%)
Long-term Psychotherapy: Exposure (1% to 20%)
Cognitive Rehabilitation:
Primary Care:
Evidenced Based Practice: Major Area of Study (50% or Greater)
Evidence Based Research:
Supervision of Practicum students :
Other:

(training opportunities continued)

Experience
Health Psychology: Exposure (1% to 20%)
Women's Health: Experience (21% to 30%)
HIV/AIDS: Exposure (1% to 20%)
Eating Disorders:
Sexual Disorders:
Sports Psychology:
Rehabilitation Psychology:
Physical Disabilities: Exposure (1% to 20%)
Learning Disabilities: Emphasis (31% to 49%)
Developmental Disabilities: Emphasis (31% to 49%)
Assessment: Major Area of Study (50% or Greater)
Neuropsychology-Adult: Exposure (1% to 20%)
Neuropsychology-Child:
Serious Mental Illness: Emphasis (31% to 49%)
Anxiety Disorders: Experience (21% to 30%)
Trauma/PTSD: Major Area of Study (50% or Greater)
Sexual Abuse: Experience (21% to 30%)
Substance Use Disorders: Major Area of Study (50% or Greater)
Forensics/Corrections: Emphasis (31% to 49%)
Sexual Offenders: Exposure (1% to 20%)
Geropsychology: Exposure (1% to 20%)
Pediatrics:
School:
Counseling: Major Area of Study (50% or Greater)
Vocational/Career Development:
Multicultural Therapy: Emphasis (31% to 49%)
Feminist Therapy:
Religion/Spirituality:
Empirically-Supported Treatments: Major Area of Study (50% or Greater)
Public Policy/Advocacy: Exposure (1% to 20%)
Program Development/Evaluation: Exposure (1% to 20%)
Supervision: Experience (21% to 30%)
Research: Exposure (1% to 20%)
Administration: Exposure (1% to 20%)
Integrated health care - primary:
Integrated health care - specialty:
Other:

Additional information about training opportunities: Not all rotations or training experiences may be available as described in the APPIC Directory. Please consult the program's application materials or their website at: https://www.bop.gov/jobs/positions/index.jsp?p=psychology_internships  for a complete description of the training opportunities available at this training site. IF the site has not updated their information by August 1, feel free to contact the Training Director for additional information.

Summary of the Characteristics of the Specified Internship Class
2017-2018 2018-2019 2019-2020 2020-2021 2021-2022 2022-2023 2023-2024 2024-2025
Number of Completed Applications: 0 15 12 11
Number of applicants invited for interviews: 0 7 9 7
Total number of interns: 0 2 2 4
Total number of interns from APA/CPA accredited programs: 0 2 2 4
Total number of interns from Ph.D. programs: 0 0 1 0
Total number of interns from Psy.D. programs: 0 2 1 4
Total number of interns from Ed.D. programs: 0 0 0 0
Number of interns that come from a Clinical Psychology program 0 2 2 4
Number of interns that come from a Counseling Psychology program 0 0 0 0
Number of interns that come from a School Psychology program 0 0 0 0
Range of integrated assessment reports: lowest number of reports written 0 14 0 0
Range of integrated assessment reports: highest number of reports written 0 22 200 21
Summary of Post Internship Employment Settings of Each Internship Class (1st Placement)
2022-2023 2023-2024
Academic teaching:
Community mental health center: 0 0
Consortium: 0 0
University Counseling Center: 0 0
Hospital/Medical Center: 0 0
Veterans Affairs Health Care System: 0 0
Psychiatric facility: 0 0
Correctional facility: 0 1
Health Maintenance Organization: 0 0
School district/system: 0 0
Independent practice setting: 2 0
Other (Academic Psychology Department): 0 0
Link to Program's Trainee Admissions, Support, and Outcome Data:
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