Are priests obligated to turn you in if you confess a crime in confession?

[Kasz216]

highwaystar101 said:

Kasz216 said:

Clergy in MOST states have the same kind of confidentiality as spouses and lawyers.

It's one thing about being a priest that would suuuuuck.  Could you imagine like... someone confessing to you that they sexually abuse their kids or something?  How the hell could you not turn him in?  Talk about a test of fate.

That situation by the way, being the one that usually is the deal breaker in most states.  Violence against children or like... I think the government sometimes priests have to report.

I was talking to someone once about something that you could probably clear up or add too.

Psychiatrists have to deal with criminals all the time, if a person confesses to a crime and it is not on their criminal record then is the psychiatrist still bound to their confidentiality agreement? Can they turn them in?

I think if it's something small like vandalism or petty theft then confidentiality would probably rule. But if it's something major like rape or murder then the psychiatrist should be obligated to tell the authorities.

I just thought you might know seeing as you are from a sociological/psychiatric background*.

(*Are you? or did I dream that bit up lol)

Yeah i have a degree in psychology.  Almost have one in sociology.  In general it's the same though it depends by state.

In general it's best to go with the APA standards when it comes to these things.

http://www.apa.org/ethics/code2002.html#4