Hello class and Instructor,
The article I chose to discuss is “Ethical treatment of youthful offenders: Issues for psychologist”. There are several difficult ethical issues that psychologists face while treating young offenders in correctional settings. For clinicians, the ethical landscape is compounded by the inherent conflict between correctional objectives and psychologically based goals. The updated Ethical Principles of Psychologists and Code of Conduct (2010) published by the American Psychological Association and practice guidelines tailored to certain fields can help to some extent, but more comprehensive advice is still needed. The opposing goals of rehabilitation and penal objectives present particular ethical issues for psychologists working with young offenders. A complicated ethical landscape is created by the therapeutic approaches that must strike a balance between the requirements of the penal system and the psychological well-being of the young offenders. The Ethical Principles of Psychologists and the Code of Conduct published by the American Psychological Association (APA) offer a fundamental framework for discussing ethical concerns related to the treatment of juvenile offenders. But, in order to successfully traverse these issues given the unique context of dealing with juvenile populations in correctional settings, psychologists require additional direction.
Juveniles are assessed and evaluated by forensic psychologists to ascertain their mental health, cognitive functioning, risk factors, and possibility for recovery. Decisions about therapy, intervention tactics, and sentence are influenced by the results of these evaluations. Expert testimony from forensic psychologists is frequently used in court cases involving minors. They might provide testimony regarding the psychological elements that influenced a minor’s behavior, their ability to comprehend court cases, or their possibility of rehabilitation. Forensic psychologists create treatment programs specifically designed to meet the requirements of young offenders based on the results of their evaluations. These programs could involve educational courses, therapy, counseling, or other forms of interventions meant to deal with underlying problems and lower the risk of reoffending. In order to better understand juvenile misbehavior, successful intervention techniques, and best practices in the juvenile justice system, forensic psychologists who work in juvenile settings may also do research. They might aid in the formulation of laws that support juvenile offenders’ successful outcomes.
Ethical treatment of youthful offenders: Issues for psychologists: EBSCOhost. (n.d.).
