Ethics in Crisis Intervention Practice (From Crisis Intervention in Criminal Justice/Social Service, 4th Edition, P 37-58, James E. Hendricks and Bryan D. Byers, eds., -- See NCJ-215593)

• NCJ Number: 215595
• Author(s): Michael P. Brown
• Date Published: 2006
• Length: 22 pages
• Sale Source: Charles C. Thomas
• Publication Format: Book Chapter
• Publication Type: Curriculum
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

This chapter analyzes ethics in crime victim crisis intervention practice, focusing on the roles and responsibilities of law enforcement officers and social workers.

Abstract

The chapter begins with a discussion of the process and practice of crisis intervention, which is described as a complex process that can take many forms. This chapter deals specifically with crime victimization and notes that criminal justice professionals are crisis interveners by virtue of their job responsibilities, which include assisting victims and survivors of crime. Similarly, human and social service workers have as their central goal the provision of various services to those who are in need, including victims of crime. The principles of crisis intervention practices for criminal justice and social work professionals are described, which focuses on a discussion of a comprehensive model for first- and second-order crisis intervention. Research on crisis intervention for crime victims is reviewed, particularly in terms of rape, domestic violence, and property crime victimization. In the cases of both criminal justice professionals and social service providers, a professional code of ethics governs the intervention process and decisions. The author notes, however, that professional codes of ethics are often not sufficient to resolve the ethical dilemmas encountered on the job, particularly in crisis situations. The author considers how religious ethics, ethical formalism, and utilitarianism contribute to professional ethics and then analyzes the law enforcement code of ethics and the social work code of ethics for their inclusion of utilitarian principles, religious principles, and ethical formalism. The chapter concludes with an examination of how the roles and responsibilities of law enforcement officers and social workers are influenced by their codes of ethics. A case study is presented of a violent home and the resulting police and social work response. The chapter includes discussion questions, simulated exercises, and a listing of additional Internet resources. Appendix, references