Background
Juvenile delinquency is a universal problem that has been experienced both in developed and developing nations over the years. The growing number of young people being involved in crime has led to escalating public concerns. Research indicates that children living in difficult circumstances are at higher risks of becoming delinquent (Mwangangi, 2019). Despite the rising delinquency, juvenile crime prevention programs remain weak and inadequate to address the existing situation. Jessica, a teenager aged 17 years old is a delinquent. She lives with an irresponsible mother who is a drug addict and she has to provide for her family having lost her dad at the age of 13. Jessica has been re-arrested several times for different delinquent behavior at school. Despite being taken to several correctional facilities, Jessica has continued to engage in delinquent behavior. However, she has not been taken to a rehabilitation facility instead she was locked in an adult jail where she was assaulted. Delinquency being a psychological problem, differential diagnosis of the delinquents is necessary to prevent juvenile recidivism.
A Course of Action for Treatment
Today, the standard juvenile delinquent laws have changed after delinquency became more of misbehavior than a crime. Researchers argue that 65-75% of juvenile delinquents have more than one diagnosable psychiatric disorder (Ashline Hofmann, 2017, p. 127). The present mental health needs of juvenile offenders indicate that they require further services while in the correctional facilities. Jessica’s mental health state demanded mental health services which guaranteed her referral to a forensic psychologist. Psychologists dealing with the treatment of delinquents face a range of ethical concerns which demand awareness of and adherence to the Ethical Principles of Psychologists and Code of Conduct (2010). APA Ethics Code helps psychologists to deal with ethical issues that they encounter in their practice.
The principle of beneficence and nonmaleficence demands that psychologists should protect their clients from harm and strive to cause minimal harm if inevitable. The Juvenile justice system philosophy states that young offenders are different from their adult counterparts because their psychological capacity to appreciate the consequences of their actions is minimal (Ashline Hofmann, 2017). As a result, there has been public favor of differential treatment of adult and juvenile offenders. Charging Jessica as an adult and recommending that she remains in jail exposes her to assault by the adult offenders. This is against the beneficence principle because the adult jail causes more harm to Jessica and increases the risk of her becoming more violent and engaging in delinquent behavior.
The forensic psychologist is required to observe the principle of Justice by avoiding potential biases and unjust practices when recommending Jessica’s treatment. When psychologists assume forensic roles, they are required to offer clinical services to their clients within the juvenile justice facility (Ashline Hofmann, 2017). The forensic psychologist working in the case of Jessica should choose a course of action that promotes justice and at the same time protects the vulnerable girl. Therefore, the psychologist should recommend Jessica be adjudicated as a juvenile and receive inpatient treatment at a secure facility.
Scholarly Research Findings on Recommendable Correctional Facility for Juvenile Delinquents
Research on the role of forensic psychologists in juvenile delinquency indicates the existence of an imbalance between welfare and justice models. However, high-income countries have continued to establish superior approaches that deal with juvenile delinquency through multifaceted correctional interventions that incorporate psychiatric, legal, and developmental fields. A study conducted by Young, Greer & Church (2017) indicated that inadequate legal frameworks are lacking age-appropriate services. The study showed that client-centered approaches and developmentally appropriate programs and activities are associated with positive outcomes among juvenile offenders. Placing Jessica in an individualized therapeutic program that caters to her mental health needs is likely to help her with the rehabilitation process and prevent her involvement in delinquent behavior.
Psycholegal research continues to enhance the administration of justice and public protection. In their study, Bycroft, Dear and Drake (2020) supported that ethical standards are critical as a guide towards the recommended evaluation methods for juvenile offenders with mental health needs. The research findings showed that ethical framework provides universally accepted principles that require forensic psychologists to respect the dignity of humanity, exhibit Care and Responsibility principles, and adhere to the trust and Justice principles.
Research on ethical principles show their role in solving cases that involve young offenders. The principle of distributive justice requires psychologists to ensure that the benefits, risks, and costs of their decisions are distributed among all people (American Psychological Association, 2016). The Care principle demands reasonable steps to minimize unavoidable harm and avoid foreseeable harm. In Jessica’s case, having her in a secure facility and providing inpatient treatment promotes the Care principle. The research findings from Allan’s (2020) study support the principle of justice which is evidenced By Jessica’s placement in a juvenile. The forensic psychologist’s recommendation regarding Jessica’s case seeks to bridge the welfare-justice gap in juvenile delinquency.
Ethics of juvenile delinquency Case and Ethical Concerns for Forensic Psychologist in Jessica’s Case
There exists a controversial debate over the ethical dilemmas in the juvenile correctional system. Over the years, there has been a concern over the best way to handle juvenile offenders. While a big number of people support differential treatment of juvenile and adult offenders, critics are convinced that juvenile offenders are not less culpable than their adult counterparts and should therefore face the same correctional system. Utilitarian ethics judges an action’s morality by the consequences it produces. Juvenile’s actions despite them being young offenders produce pain and suffering to the victims. However, adjudicating juveniles as adults increases the recidivism rates and would not produce the greatest good.
Forensic psychologists have the mandate to help law enforcement bodies deliver justice by providing decisions that promote the welfare of the society while respecting human dignity. In Jessica’s case, the psychologist is required to adhere to ethical codes by avoiding misuse of work, remaining competent, avoiding harm, obtaining consent from the client, remaining confidential and avoiding exploitation ((Yadav, 2017). The professional ethics by the forensic psychologists will help him settle on the best course of action.
Ethical Principles and Standards to Address the Ethical Concerns in Jessica’s Case
Several ethical concerns emerge with juvenile offenders including the issue of age, lack of maturity, and susceptibility to peer influence. On Utilitarian grounds, the forensic psychologist should adopt a course of action that produces a morally just outcome. Processing juveniles through the juvenile system allows them to change their behavior and helps them to stop reoffending. As a result, the juvenile system creates the greatest good for the greater number (Yadav, 2017). Deontological ethics points out that society must reduce the culpability of juveniles who are more susceptible to peer influence because of their underdeveloped brains. Deontological ethics supports that human beings deserve a sense of hope which is part of dignity and worth.
Working with children or young offenders requires strict observance of ethical principles because of different ethical concerns associated with them. The principle of children’s participation addresses the issue of exploitation and the client’s consent by ensuring that Jessica becomes the source of accurate information about her life. Most importantly, Jessica’s interest should be put first to protect him from harm and to promote justice. Forensic psychologists should fully understand and implement ethical principles and standards in Jessica’s case to ensure that justice is served and Jessica receives appropriate correctional services.
References
Allan, A. (2020). Structuring the debate about research ethics in the psychology and law field: An international perspective. Psychiatry, Psychology and Law, 27(3), 397-411. Web.
American Psychological Association. (2016). Revision of Ethical Standard 3.04 of the” Ethical Principles of Psychologists and Code of Conduct”(2002, as amended 2010). The American Psychologist, 71(9), 900. Web.
Ashline Hofmann, S. (2017). Ethical treatment of youthful offenders: Issues for psychologists. Child & Youth Services, 38(2), 126-141. Web.
Bycroft, D., Dear, G. E., & Drake, D. (2020). Psychological pre‐sentence evaluations for sentencing young offenders in Australia. Australian Psychologist, 55(5), 455-467. Web.
Mwangangi, R. K. (2019). The role of the family in dealing with juvenile delinquency. Open Journal of Social Sciences, 7(3), 52-63. Web.
Yadav, P. K. (2017). Ethical issues across different fields of forensic science. Egyptian Journal of forensic sciences, 7(1), 1-6. Web.
Young, S., Greer, B., & Church, R. (2017). Juvenile delinquency, welfare, justice, and therapeutic interventions: a global perspective. BJPsych Bulletin, 41(1), 21-29. Web.