NCJ Number
59043
Date Published
Unknown
Length
13 pages
Annotation
ETHICAL PROBLEMS OF PUBLIC OFFENDER COUNSELORS ARE EXPLORED; A CONFLICT OF INTEREST EXISTS BETWEEN THE ROLES THEY ARE EXPECTED TO PLAY BY THEIR EMPLOYER AGENCIES AND THE TENETS OF THEIR PROFESSIONAL ETHICS.
Abstract
WRITTEN BY A COUNSELING PSYCHOLOGIST FROM AN OFFENDER-ORIENTED PERSPECTIVE, THIS PAPER IS BASED ON THE ASSUMPTION THAT COUNSELORS WORKING WITH PUBLIC OFFENDERS IN VARIOUS AGENCY SETTINGS SHOULD NOT ASSUME AUTHORITY ROLES WITH THEIR CLIENTS IN ORDER TO FULFILL THE EXPECTATIONS OF THE AGENCIES, (I.E. CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTIONS) WHICH EMPLOY THEM. THEIR EMPLOYERS ARE ORIENTED TOWARD THE PROTECTION OF SOCIETY AND THE PREVENTION OF RECIDIVISM, WHEREAS PROFESSIONAL ETHICS REQUIRE PROVIDERS OF PSYCHIATRIC AND COUNSELING SERVICES TO REGARD THEIR CLIENTS' DISCLOSURES (E.G., BREACHES OF PRISON RULES) AS PRIVILEGED INFORMATION (CONFIDENTIALITY). INFORMATION THUS OBTAINED SHOULD NOT BE USED TO MANIPULATE CLIENT BEHAVIOR TO SERVE CUSTODIAL ENDS. OFFENDERS ARE OFTEN UNCONSENTING RECIPIENTS OF COUNSELORS' SERVICES WHICH MAKES A RELATIONSHIP OF TRUST DIFFICULT TO ACHIEVE. MANY OF THE ETHICAL ISSUES PRESENTED HERE RELATE TO THE AUTHORITY ROLES COUNSELORS ARE EXPECTED TO ASSUME WHEN THEY INTERACT WITH PUBLIC OFFENDERS. OFFENDERS ARE VERY SENSITIVE TO AUTHORITY ISSUES, KNOWING THAT THEIR FAILURE TO DEVELOP SUCH SENSITIVITY MAY LEAD TO NEGATIVE CONSEQUENCES FOR THEM. THE HIGHLY COMPLEX INTERACTION BETWEEN COUNSELORS AND PUBLIC OFFENDERS ALSO INVOLVES CONFRONTATION ISSUES, WITH CORRECTIONAL AUTHORITIES STRONGLY FAVORING FEEDBACK MODELS, WHERE PUBLIC OFFENDERS ARE TOLD HOW TO LIVE THEIR LIVES MORE RESPONSIBLY. INTENSE FEEDBACK WITH UNCONSENTING SUBJECTS IS DEFINED HERE AS ETHICALLY UNSOUND. THE DANGER OF ADOPTING THE VIEWPOINT OF THE CORRECTIONAL AGENCIES IS DEFINED HERE AS A CAVEAT FOR COUNSELORS, WHO SHOULD NOT BE CAUGHT UP IN A SYSTEM BASED ON THE CONTROL OF PEOPLE. THE ISSUE OF FINDING APPROPRIATE TESTS FOR SOCIALLY HANDICAPPED AND DISADVANTAGED BLACK OFFENDERS IS MENTIONED, AS ARE THE CIRCUMSTANCES UNDER WHICH TESTS SHOULD BE ADMINISTERED (E.G., NOT IMMEDIATELY UPON ADMISSION TO A CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTION, WHEN INMATES ARE EMOTIONALLY UPSET). AVOIDANCE OF IDENTIFICATION WITH AUTHORITIES, SCRUPULOUS NEUTRALITY, AND PRESERVATION OF THE CONFIDENTIALITY OF THE COUNSELOR-OFFENDER EXCHANGES SHOULD BE PART OF A SET OF ETHICAL GUIDELINES FOR PUBLIC OFFENDER COUNSELORS. PERSONS INTERESTED IN COUNSELING WITH PUBLIC OFFENDERS ARE URGED TO THINK CRITICALLY ABOUT THESE ETHICAL CONCERNS. A LIST OF BIBLIOGRAPHIC REFERENCES IS APPENDED.