NCJ Number
63364
Date Published
1978
Length
44 pages
Annotation
THE ROLES OF THE PSYCHOLOGIST IN THE AUSTRALIAN CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM ARE IDENTIFIED AND ETHICAL CONSIDERATIONS INVOLVED IN THE PERFORMANCE OF THESE ROLES ARE DISCUSSED.
Abstract
THE GENERAL CONSENSUS OF THE PARTICIPANTS IN THE WORKSHOP WAS THAT THE ROLE OF THE PSYCHOLOGIST IN THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM MUST NOT BE ISOLATED FROM THE ROLE PERFORMED BY PSYCHOLOGISTS IN LARGER SOCIETY; HOWEVER, CONFERENCE DISCUSSIONS SHOWED THERE ARE COMPLEX ETHICAL DILEMMAS FOR PSYCHOLOGISTS PURSUING THEIR PROFESSIONS WITHIN THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM. TO DELINEATE THESE ETHICAL DILEMMAS, THE EXPECTATIONS OF PSYCHOLOGISTS WERE COMPARED WITH THE DEMANDS OF THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM IN THE DELIVERY OF PSYCHOLOGICAL SERVICES. THE ROLE OF THE PSYCHOLOGIST IN THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM WAS DEFINED AS CONSISTING OF (1) ASSESSMENT AND EVALUATION OF PERSONS FOR SOCIAL CONTROL AGENCIES, (2) THERAPY TO CLIENTS UNDER THE CONTROL OF A SOCIAL CONTROL AGENCY, (3) INPUT TO CRIMINAL JUSTICE POLICY, (4) RESEARCH USING THE SUBJECT UNDER THE JURISDICTION OF A SOCIAL CONTROL AGENCY, AND (5) EDUCATION OF OTHERS ABOUT THE INVOLVEMENT OF PSYCHOLOGISTS IN THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM. ETHICAL CONSIDERATIONS INCLUDE CONFLICTS BETWEEN PROFESSIONAL GOALS AND CRIMINAL JUSTICE GOALS, PROFESSIONAL INDEPENDENCE, VOLUNTARY STATUS OF CLIENTS, ABUSE OF CONSULTANT SERVICES, CONFIDENTIALITY, THE USE OF PSYCHOLOGICAL REPORTS, JUSTIFICATION FOR USING OFFENDERS INSTEAD OF OTHER CITIZENS IN RESEARCH, AND SAFEGUARDS ON RESEARCH ABUSES. RESOLUTIONS TO PROVIDE ETHICAL GUIDANCE IN THESE AREAS ARE PRESENTED. (RCB)