Role of Psychology in the Criminal Justice System - Report of the Task Force

• NCJ Number: 69812
• Journal: American Psychologist Dated: (December 1978) Pages: 1099-1113
• Author(s): J Monahan; S Feshbach; W Holder; R A Howe; N Kittrie; J Loevinger; L McDonough
• Date Published: 1978
• Length: 15 pages
• Grant Number(s): 0SS76-15832
• Sponsoring Agency: National Science Foundation
• Corporate Author: American Psychological Assoc
• Publication Format: Article
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

Ethical dilemmas faced by psychologists working with police, courts, correctional, and juvenile justice agencies are examined; recommendations are made for these dilemmas.

Abstract

The American Psychological Association's (APA's) Board of Social and Ethical Responsibility for Psychology (BSERP) commissioned a task force to examine the ethical dilemmas faced by psychologists working with the criminal justice system. Ten recommendations were made. Psychologists in a criminal justice setting should inform all parties to a given service of the level of confidentiality that applies and should specify any circumstances that would constitute an exception to confidentiality. The ideal level of confidentiality of therapeutic service should be the same as exists in voluntary noninstitutional settings. Psychological assessments of offenders should be permitted only when the psychologist has a reasonable expectation that such assessments will serve a useful therapeutic or dispositional function. Psychologists have an ethical obligation to educate themselves in the concepts and operations of the system in which they work. They should not offer conclusions on matters of law, should be clear about what they are trying to accomplish in the criminal justice system, and should encourage and cooperate in the evaluation of their services to the system. Psychological research should conform to the ethical standards proposed by the National Commission for the Protection of Human Subjects. Caution should be exercised in offering predictions of criminal behavior for use in imprisoning or releasing individual offenders. Treatment services should be offered to offenders who request them. The task force also recommended that the APA encourage graduate and continuing education in applied ethics of psychological intervention and research, and take steps to increase awareness among psychologists of complaints of violations of the ethical standards promulgated. Reference notes and approximately 50 references are provided.