Self-Disclosure in Criminal Justice: What Form Does It Take and What Does It Achieve?. (September 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Phillips, Jake; Fowler, Andrew; Westaby, Chalen
• Is Part Of: International journal of offender therapy and comparative criminology. Volume 62:Number 12(2018)
• Page Start: 3890
• Page End: 3909
• Publication Date: 2018-09
• Subjects: self-disclosure -- probation -- criminal justice -- therapeutic relationship -- correctionalism -- effective practice; Criminals -- Rehabilitation -- Periodicals; Criminal psychology -- Periodicals; Violent offenders -- Periodicals; Sex offenders -- Periodicals; Criminology -- Periodicals; 364.3
• DOI: 10.1177/0306624X17751528
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0306-624X

Abstract

Self-disclosure, the act of therapists revealing something about themselves in the context of a professional relationship, has been linked with higher levels of effectiveness when used by correctional workers. However, it is poorly defined in both criminal justice policy and criminological research which has resulted in a lack of understanding about the potential risks and benefits to practice and practitioners. This article uses literature from other fields (namely, social work, counselling, and psychotherapy) to lay out what forms self-disclosure might take in the field of criminal justice. The article presents data that were generated as part of a larger project on emotional labour in probation practice in England. It analyses these data to argue that self-disclosure is used in two principle ways: to create and enhance a therapeutic relationship and in a more correctional way which is focused on criminogenic risk and need. We conclude by arguing that future research which seeks to identify a link between certain skills and effective outcomes needs to start with a much stronger definition of such skills as, otherwise, any effects are likely to be lost.