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Correctional Settings

Assessing and Managing Suicide Risk in Correctional Populations

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February 13, 2026, 8:30 - 10:30am CST
Virtual via Zoom
Fee: $10 full members; $25 partial members and nonmembers
Continuing Education Hours: 2.0
Register

Course Description

Many mental health providers are adept when assessing the degree of suicidal risk and means of managing increased risk amongst their clients. However, in the correctional setting, risk assessment can seem less clear when managing intense, high risk, and sometimes contagious behaviors that occur with increased frequency. Frequently, the question about how to manage "instrumental" self-injury, "manipulative" reports of suicidal ideation/intent, and aspects of malingering can cloud the picture of what we tend to think of as best practice for suicide risk assessment and management. In this workshop, participants will learn the similarities and differences that exist in best-practice suicide risk assessment within a correctional environment and nuances of risk management related to high risk operantlymaintained behaviors.

Learning Objectives: 

  • Identify the two goals of crisis intervention
  • Identify the importance of functional assessment in determining action steps
  • Identify the importance of collaborative management of risky behavior

About the Trainer

Lesley Chapin, Psy.D.

Lesley Chapin, Psy.D.

Lesley Chapin, Psy.D. is a psychologist who specializes in Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) and has vast experience implementing and adapting this evidence based practice to within forensic and correctional settings. Dr. Chapin has personally worked as a psychologist on staff at several correctional institutions and the State forensic hospital. She is now a DBT trainer and consultant for Wisconsin’s Department of Corrections within both adult and juvenile systems. She provides training and consultation to other systems across the Nation. Dr. Chapin serves on the Governor’s Juvenile Justice Commission in Wisconsin and is part of other mental health groups and committees working to increase access to mental health services across the State for underserved Populations. Dr.Chapin received her doctorate in clinical psychology from the University of Denver in 2009. She completed her internship at CMC Randolph Behavioral Health in Charlotte, North Carolina, and her post-doctoral supervision with the Wisconsin Department of Corrections. Dr. Chapin has been conducting DBT and DBTinformed interventions since 2006 with adults, adolescents, and family members in inpatient, outpatient, correctional, forensic and residential settings. She is board certified in Dialectical Behavior Therapy by the Linehan Board of Certification and is trained in several specified DBT protocols and adaptations including DBT for adolescents (DBT-A), DBT for Children (DBT-C), DBT for substance use disorders (DBT-SUD), DBT for eating disorders, and DBT for PTSD (DBT-PE and DBT-PTSD).