Social Workers’ Perspectives on Effective Practice in Criminal Justice Settings

Abstract

Social workers practicing within the field of criminal justice face significant challenges. Through individual interviews, 17 experienced social workers from diverse criminal justice settings share their perspectives about the attributes needed for effective social work practice. Participants describe how they define success in their work and what it takes to be successful. They highlight specific ways of behaving within criminal justice settings, relationship qualities for working with criminal justice clients, and personal traits believed to be critical to effective practice. The participants also reflect on the value of their education and offer a suggestion for prospective criminal justice social workers.

Childhood Adversity, Substance Abuse, and Violence: Implications for Trauma-Informed Social Work Practice

“…Within the strengths-based and integrative environmental context of social work practice, we aim to promote social justice and trauma-informed service delivery to all clients, including those who have committed crimes (Maschi & Killian, 2011;Saleebey, 2011;Sheehan, 2012). The person-in-environment perspective (PIE; Kondrat, 2008) held by social workers helps us recognize the role that adversity might play in the formation of maladaptive coping strategies, including criminal or addictive behavior (Robbins et al, 2015;Sheehan, 2012;D. S. Young, 2014).…”

You Learn What You Live: Prevalence of Childhood Adversity in the Lives of Juveniles Arrested for Sexual Offenses

“…The research is clear and compelling that childhood adversity, especially when it is chronic, contributes to a complex web of neuro-biological, social, psychological, cognitive, and relational impacts across the lifespan, and increases risk for criminal behavior (Larkin et al, 2014;Young, 2014). Trauma-informed workers in the juvenile justice system should recognize the prevalence and impact of childhood adversity, expect the majority of clients to have experienced early trauma, and be well-versed in knowledge related to complex trauma responses and how they contribute to delinquent behaviors.…”

Forensic Social Work: Implementing Specialist Social Work Education

“…Further, Robbins et al (2014) believe it is ''imperative that the social work curriculum prepare students to work within the reality of the everincreasing forensic world in which we all live'' (p. 174). However, Young (2014) comments that whilst these ''new opportunities for social work influence emerge, social work students may not be adequately prepared for work within these settings during their educational programs'' (p. 107). Howe (1994) describes care, control, and cure as the three traditional cornerstones of social work; forensic work, with its focus on care and control, ''is good at regulating society's marginal and undisciplined members'' (p. 526).…”

“…(2014) believe it is “imperative that the social work curriculum prepare students to work within the reality of the ever-increasing forensic world in which we all live” (p. 174). However, Young (2014) comments that whilst these “new opportunities for social work influence emerge, social work students may not be adequately prepared for work within these settings during their educational programs” (p. 107).…”