The APA Code of Conduct, which is also known as the Ethics Code, prescribes a set of aspirational goals and enforceable rules for the conduct of psychologists and guides practitioners to achieve the highest standards of psychology (APA, 2017). When interacting with clients in the prison system, the most crucial APA guideline which the practitioner ought to consider is the maintenance of privacy and confidentiality. In this regard, the psychologist not only needs to take the necessary precautions to maintain the confidentiality of the information obtained from the client in the prison system but also recognize the limits of the confidentiality as regulated by established laws (Olson, Soldz, & Davis, 2008). In addition, the psychologist should not use the information obtained from the client to influence the merits of the court case. Moreover, any transcripts or recordings should be preceded by express permission from the client before they are carried out. Any disclosures of information obtained from the client should be made with the client’s consent or their legal representative and remain within the established legal framework.
In conducting an assessment, diagnosis, and treatment of a client in the prison system, the APA guideline that is likely to present the biggest challenge to the psychologist is the resolution of ethical issues. Indeed, the practitioner might confront conflicts between ethics and laws of regulation and other governing legal authority (Haenry, 2014). For instance, the psychologist may unearth crucial information that would virtually incriminate the client and therefore face the dilemma of carrying out his duties as a professional or upholding the law as a responsible citizen. Nevertheless, the psychologist should remain committed to the Ethics Code and take the necessary steps to resolve the conflict in line with the provisions of the principles and standards of the Ethics Code.
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References
American Psychological Association. (2017). Ethical principles of psychologists and code of conduct. Retrieved September 4, 2019, from https://www.apa.org/ethics/code/
Haeny A. M. (2014). Ethical Considerations for Psychologists Taking a Public Stance on Controversial Issues: The balance between personal and professional life. Ethics & behavior , 24 (4), 265–278. doi:10.1080/10508422.2013.860030
Olson, B., Soldz, S., & Davis, M. (2008). The ethics of interrogation and the American Psychological Association: a critique of policy and process. Philosophy, ethics, and humanities in medicine: PEHM , 3 , 3. doi:10.1186/1747-5341-3-3
