An increase in law enforcement initiatives and more stringent mandated sentencing by the judicial system over the last two decades has resulted in overcrowding in the U.S. prison system. Correctional officials have been forced to allocate their finite budget primarily on the cost and problems associated with housing the increasing number of inmates. An unfortunate consequence of limited funds has been to reduce programs and services such as mental health. The model of brief psychodynamic therapy presented in this paper was developed to utilize effective psychodynamic techniques and interventions and reflect the cultural reality of the prison environment. Examining the issues of mental health services in this population and applying a time-limited effective therapeutic approach may provide an efficient fiscal solution to an overtaxed correctional budget. A review of traditional psychodynamic therapy and application of the principals in brief therapy to address the underlying causes of an inmate's maladaptive symptoms may offer an alternative method to current mental health interventions in this population.