Case Scenario:
Donald is a 53-year-old Caucasian male is serving seven years for selling amphetamines and crack cocaine to under age children in the community. He has no family to speak of. His mother and father, who were both alcoholics, are deceased. He is estranged from his two brothers, who moved away many years ago and did not leave forwarding addresses. Donald also has an ex-wife from a brief marriage. His personal involvement with drugs, coupled with selling drugs to children, caused her to leave him more than ten years ago. His only knowledge of her is that she remarried and moved away; they had no children together.
Hoping to find some peace of mind and be able to create a life for himself, when he is released; Donald has agreed to work with a social worker.
You have had several weekly sessions with Donald since he first sought you out. In the course of the weekly sessions, he revealed several aspects of his life.
One is that he was told by his mother that he was an evil child and would be punished for his evil ways. Another is that he had also engaged in child pornography, but had never been caught or punished for this crime.
You are in the middle of today’s session with Donald when the topic of his drug-dealing and involvement with child pornography come up again. You ask him if he has ever regretted any of his actions.
DONALD: “Nah. Not really. I mean, I guess that I’m sorry about getting caught selling drugs, but that’s about it.”
You ask Donald if he regrets anything else besides simply getting caught. Does he regret the actual act of selling drugs to children? Or his involvement in child pornography?
DONALD: “No, I don’t regret doing those things. I don’t know why I should.”
DONALD: “No, I don’t regret doing those things. I don’t know why I should.”
His response causes you a sense of anger, judgment, and revulsion. You notice these feelings in you right away. His response causes you a sense of anger, judgment, and revulsion. You know that you have to say something to Donald, but what?
Case Study Questions:
After completing the scenario, answer the following questions in your paper.
What elements of good and evil exist within this case?
As the social worker, can you help Donald P. at this juncture?
Why do you think speaking with a chaplain may be useful to Donald at this juncture?
In your estimation, can Donald change the course of his life?