NCJ Number
66885
Journal
Criminal Justice and Behavior Volume: 7 Issue: 1 Dated: (MARCH 1980) Pages: 3-10
Date Published
1980
Length
7 pages
Annotation
ETHICAL ISSUES CONFRONTED BY A PRISON PSYCHOLOGIST ARE IDENTIFIED AND DISCUSSED.
Abstract
THE PRISON PSYCHOLOGIST EXPERIENCES UNIQUE ETHICAL CHALLENGES THAT MUST BE SATISFACTORILY RESOLVED IF JOB FULFILLMENT IS TO OCCUR. SOME OF THE ETHICAL ISSUES ARE BOUND UP WITH THE PSYCHOLOGIST'S BEING PAID BY A CORRECTIONAL ADMINISTRATION WITH AN AGENDA OF BEHAVIORAL CONTROLS FOR THE INMATE CLIENTS SERVED BY THE PSYCHOLOGIST. OBLIGATIONS TO EMPLOYER AND CLIENT FREQUENTLY CONFLICT. THIS IS NOTABLY SO IN THE REALM OF PROFESSIONAL CONFIDENTIALITY REGARDING CLIENT COMMUNICATIONS. CORRECTIONAL ADMINISTRATIONS COMMONLY REQUIRE THAT ALL STAFF MEMBERS REPORT ALL KNOWLEDGE OF RULE INFRINGEMENTS TO APPROPRIATE PRISON STAFF. WHILE THE ISSUE MAY BE RESOLVED BY INFORMING ALL CLIENTS OF THIS RULE PRIOR TO BEGINNING THERAPY, THE LIMITATION ON CONFIDENTIALITY MAY MAKE INMATE SHARING MORE GUARDED. A SECOND IMPORTANT ETHICAL ISSUE RELATES TO THE CONDITIONS UNDER WHICH THE PRISON PSYCHOLOGIST PROVIDES THERAPY. CLIENTS ARE UNDER REAL OR IMAGINED PRESSURE TO SEE THE PSYCHOLOGIST, THUS PRODUCING A SCENARIO LIKELY TO UNDERMINE PROGRESS IN THERAPY. ALSO, THE PSYCHOLOGIST IS GREATLY RESTRICTED IN THERAPEUTICALLY GUIDING INMATE CLIENTS TOWARD HEALTHY BEHAVIOR APPROPRIATE TO COMMUNITY LIFE, WHEN THE IMMEDIATE PRISON ENVIRONMENT DISCOURAGES OR PROHIBITS SUCH BEHAVIOR. STILL, INMATES CANNOT BE ABANDONED BY THOSE PROVIDING PSYCHOLOGICAL SERVICES. PROFESSIONAL ETHICS REQUIRE THAT SUCH SERVICES BE EXTENDED. THE ETHICAL ISSUES ARE COMPLEX, AND PRISON PSYCHOLOGISTS MUST DEVELOP SATISFACTORY WAYS OF HANDLING THEM IF THE JOB PERFORMED IS TO HAVE MEANING FOR THEM AND THE INMATES SERVED. REFERENCES AND ILLUSTRATIONS ARE PROVIDED. (RCB)