9.2: Introduction to Correctional Counseling for Races

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Culture is a primary force in the creation of a person’s identity. Correctional professionals who are culturally competent are better able to understand and respect their offenders’ identities and related cultural ways of life. This section proposes strategies to engage offenders of diverse racial and ethnic groups (who can have very different life experiences, values, and traditions) in treatment. The major racial and ethnic groups in the United States covered in this section are African Americans, Asian Americans (including Native Hawaiians and other Pacific Islanders), Latinos, Native Americans (i.e., Alaska Natives and American Indians), and White Americans. In addition to providing epidemiological data on each group, this section discusses salient aspects of treatment for these racial/ethnic groups, drawing on clinical and research literature. This information is only a starting point in gaining cultural knowledge as it relates to behavioral health. Understanding the diversity within a specific culture, race, or ethnicity is essential; not all information presented in this chapter will apply to all individuals. The material in this chapter has a scientific basis, yet cultural beliefs, traditions, and practices change with time and are not static factors to consider in providing services for offenders, families, or communities.

Although these broad racial/ethnic categories are often used to describe diverse cultural groups, the differences between two members of the same racial/ethnic group can be greater than the differences between two people from different racial/ethnic groups (Lamont and Small 2008; Zuckerman 1998). It is not possible to capture every aspect of diversity within each cultural group. Correctional professional workers should acknowledge that there will be many individual variations in how people interact with their environments, as well as in how environmental context affects behavioral health. However, to provide a framework for understanding many diverse cultural groups, some generalizations are necessary; thus, broad categories are used to organize information in this chapter. Correctional professionals are encouraged to learn as much as possible about the specific populations they serve.