NCJ Number
46327
Date Published
1978
Length
45 pages
Annotation
ETHICAL ISSUES FOR PSYCHOLOGISTS IN CRIMINAL JUSTICE WORK ARE DISCUSSED, AND RECOMMENDATIONS FOR AN ETHICAL COURSE TO BE PURSUED BY THE PROFESSION OF PSYCHOLOGY IN THIS AREA ARE PRESENTED.
Abstract
TWO TYPES OF ETHICAL ISSUES ARE CONSIDERED: THOSE THAT THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM CREATES FOR PSYCHOLOGISTS WHO WORK IN THE SYSTEM; AND THOSE CREATED FOR THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM BY THE ASSUMPTIONS THAT LEAD IT TO HIRE PSYCHOLOGISTS AND EMPLOY THEM IN CERTAIN ROLES. THE FOLLOWING RECOMMENDATIONS ARE OFFERED: (1) PSYCHOLOGISTS IN CRIMINAL JUSTICE SETTINGS SHOULD INFORM ALL PARTIES TO A GIVEN SERVICE OF THE LEVEL OF CONFIDENTIALITY THAT APPLIES; (2) THAT LEVEL SHOULD BE THE SAME AS THAT IN VOLUNTARY, NONINSTITUTIONAL SETTINGS; (3) OTHER THAN FOR LEGITIMATE RESEARCH PURPOSES, PSYCHOLOGICAL ASSESSMENTS OF OFFENDERS SHOULD BE PERFORMED ONLY WHEN THE PSYCHOLOGIST EXPECTS SUCH ASSESSMENTS TO SERVE A USEFUL THERAPEUTIC OR DISPOSITIONAL FUNCTION; (4) PSYCHOLOGISTS SHOULD LEARN ABOUT THE CONCEPTS AND OPERATIONS OF THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM IN WHICH THEY WORK; (5) PSCHOLOGISTS SHOULD NOT OFFER CONCLUSIONS ON MATTERS OF LAW; (6) PSYCHOLOGISTS SHOULD BE CLEAR ABOUT WHAT THEY ARE TRYING TO ACCOMPLISH IN THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM AND ABOUT THE STATE OF THE EMPIRICAL EVIDENCE IN SUPPORT OF THEIR ABILITY TO ACCOMPLISH IT; (7) PSYCHOLOGISTS SHOULD ENCOURAGE AND COOPERATE IN THE EVALUATION OF THEIR SERVICES; (8) PSYCHOLOGICAL RESEARCH IN PRISONS SHOULD CONFORM TO THE STANDARDS PROPOSED BY THE NATIONAL COMMISSION FOR THE PROTECTION OF HUMAN SUBJECTS; (9) PSYCHOLOGISTS SHOULD EXERCISE CAUTION IN PREDICTING CRIMINAL BEHAVIOR; AND (10) PSYCHOLOGISTS SHOULD BE ENCOURAGED TO OFFER TREATMENT TO ALL OFFENDERS WHO REQUEST IT. SUGGESTIONS FOR IMPLEMENTING THE RECOMMENDATIONS ARE INCLUDED. A LIST OF REFERENCES IS PROVIDED. (LKM)