Correctional Psychiatrist
Listed compensation
$225/hr
The week · per this posting
Ask the employer about nights and shift pattern and time off.
Job Description
Correctional Psychiatrist - Kern County, CA (#R10043)
Board Certification in Forensic Psychiatry (Preferred): ABPN certification not mandatory but strongly recommended.
Greenlife Healthcare Staffing is seeking an Correctional Psychiatrist to fill an opening in the KernBHRS department that provides specialty behavioral health services to Medi-Cal recipients and uninsured, located in Kern County, CA.
Schedule of the Correctional Psychiatrist
Full-Time (FTE):
Shift: 8-hour day (e. g., 7:00 a. m. – 3:00 p. m. to align with jail intake protocols).
Activities: 10–12 inmate evaluations, competency assessments, and testimony preparation.
On-Call Requirements
Rotation: 1–2 weekends monthly for urgent forensic consultations (additional compensation).
Job Description
The Correctional Psychiatrists provide mental health services within Kern County detention facilities, focusing on competency restoration, suicide risk mitigation, and continuity-of-care planning for post-release community reintegration.
Job Responsibilities
Conduct competency-to-stand-trial (CST) evaluations under Penal Code 1369, collaborating with public defenders and court-appointed experts.
Manage opioid withdrawal protocols using buprenorphine/naloxone in compliance with CDCR formulary restrictions.
Develop safety plans for inmates with borderline personality disorder and histories of self-injurious behaviors.
Coordinate with probation officers and FQHCs to ensure medication access post-release, including 30-day supplies of antipsychotics.
Greenlife Healthcare Staffing is a nationwide recruitment agency, matching both new grads and advanced practitioners to hospitals, clinics, nursing homes, multi-specialty groups, and private practices.
Requirements of the Correctional Psychiatrist
- Must have an active California Medical License.
- American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology (ABPN) certified.
- Must be DEA Certified
Benefits of the Correctional Psychiatrist
- The salary for this position is $225/hr.
- Sick days
- Health insurance
- Matching 401k
Key Responsibilities
The Correctional Psychiatrist provides mental health services within detention facilities, including competency-to-stand-trial evaluations and suicide risk mitigation. They also manage opioid withdrawal protocols and coordinate post-release care planning for inmates.
Requirements
Candidates must hold an active California Medical License, be DEA certified, and possess ABPN certification. Experience in forensic psychiatry is strongly preferred to handle the specific clinical and legal demands of the role.
Qualifications
- Education
- Professional certificate or licensure
- Experience
- 5+ years of experience
Certifications
Key Skills
Work-Life Balance Analysis
WeekdayDoc's proprietary algorithm rates Correctional Psychiatrist at GreenLife Healthcare Staffing a 6.4 out of 10 for work-life balance — classified as good. This places the position in the Above average in Physician roles — ranked against 19,720 active Physician roles listings on WeekdayDoc.
Psychiatry — Physician Career Context
GreenLife Healthcare Staffing holds silver-tier status on WeekdayDoc's Top Employers work-life index, composite score 74/100, 358 active listings.
Of the 50 active Psychiatry listings this role was benchmarked against, 64% are remote, 50% have no call, 70% require no weekends.
Psychiatry pay on WeekdayDoc is down 4.1% vs. the prior quarter (through Aug 2026).
The cost-of-living index for California is 110.7 (US average = 100; BEA Regional Price Parities (2024)), so the posted ~$468k midpoint carries the purchasing power of roughly $423k in an average-cost state. 63.6% of California clinicians report burnout symptoms in WeekdayDoc's Burnout Index (2026-01 data).
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Listing-based score, 0–10, across 1,760 comparable listings. Shaded area = the share scoring below this one.
- On-site
- Includes call
- Includes weekends
Living in California City
- Typical 3-bedroom home value
- $266k
- Typical market rent
- $1,781/mo
- State income tax
- Up to 13.3%
Sources & methodology
Sources: Zillow home values (Aug 2026), Zillow market rents (Aug 2026).
City-level figures. Not a cost-of-living guarantee.