Chap 12

SW 2300 Syllabus

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Social Work in Criminal Justice

Components

•Courts

–persistence investigation

– Adjudication and sentencing

– monitoring and review

•Jail used for short sentence or holding

• Prisons

• Juvenile detention facilities and boot camps

• Half way houses

Community Based Corrections

•Probation - period of supervision after convicted

• Parole - early release of prisoner with period of supervision

–Restitution

– Treatment - counseling and substance abuse

– Community Service

Social Work in Prisons

• Various levels of security, reception facilities, detention centers, boot camps

• Social workers do psychosocial evaluations and make recommendations to court

• Link prisoner with family and community

• In women's prison's helps women connect with their children

• Communicate between prisoner and staff

• Conflict resolution and negotiation

• Counseling

• Recommendations

•Alternative to prison - probation and parole

• Threat of revocation (cancel probation or parole and go to prison)

• Shock probation - scare tactic ala Montel Williams

• Goal is prevent recidivism (repeat offense)

• Social workers as probation and parole workers, also court social workers

Risk Rating

•Identifies high risk factors of the offender

• See page 359

Juvenile Justice System

• Very strong social work presence

• 1967 Gault - afforded children legal protections and due process

• Created a more adversarial atmosphere

• Allowed prosecution and defense, like adults

• Now trying family courts and drug courts

Value conflicts with social workers in courts

• Agree with the offense?

• What is the current atmosphere about criminal justice in this county?

• punitive nature - doesn't protect self determination

• SW view problems as complex

• rehabilitation Vs. incarceration