Forensic Social Work Ethics in Prolonged Solitary Confinement: A Struggle with Dual Loyalty

Abstract

Substantial evidence on the damaging psychiatric and health-related effects of prolonged solitary confinement has been well-documented in decades of research and civil rights litigation. The emerging ethical dilemma for forensic social work concerns the dual loyalty when social workers are tasked with providing services to clients in restrictive housing. Using Frederic Reamer’s ethical decision-making framework, in concert with the NASW Code of Ethics and the NOFSW Specialty Guidelines on Values and Ethics, the ethical dilemma of dual loyalty in this practice context is explored. Forensic social workers experiencing this unique ethical dilemma are encouraged to consider rational and mindful decision making guided by social work ethical codes and principles of social justice.