Ethical Considerations When Working with Victims and Offenders

Behavior Analysts, working in any setting, may come in contact with or be asked to work with someone who has been a victim of sexual abuse. In addition, we may also be asked to assist with an offender or someone who has committed a sexually related crime. Discussing the nuances that present while working in a setting that may have both victims and offenders is necessary. This kind of work requires specific training and competencies; noting that while this workshop does not provide that level of training, it does cover ways to assist ethically and in ways that will cause no harm to any client.

Objectives:

• Clinicians will define the differences between victims, perpetual victims, counterfeit deviance, trauma reenactments, first time offenders and repeat offenders.
• Clinicians will be able connect ethical codes from the BACB Ethics Code for Behavior Analysts to the above listed populations.
• Clinicians will identify resources for gaining competencies to working with victims and offenders.