Chapter 13 The Role of Social Work in the Criminal Justice System

Copyright © 2012 Cengage Learning, Brooks/Cole Publishing

Chapter 13:Criminal Justice

Social Work: A Competency-Oriented Education

Council on Social Work Education (CSWE)

- Defines Educational Policy and Accreditation Standards (EPAs)

- Developed 10 “Core Competencies” and 41 Related “Practice Behaviors”

Every student should master the Practice Behaviors and Core Competencies before completing the program


Resources Aligned to EPAS 2008

The Textbook –

- “Helping Hands” icons call attention to content that relates to Practice Behaviors and Competencies

- “Competency Notes” at the end of the chapter help put the Practice Behaviors and Competencies in practical context


Resources Aligned to EPAS 2008 (cont’d)

The Practice Behaviors Workbook developed

with the text provides assignable exercises that assist in mastering the Practice Behavior and Competencies

Additional on-line resources can be found at: www.cengage.com/socialwork



The criminal justice systemThe criminal justice system in its broadest sense

refers to the means used to enforce those standards

of conduct required to protect individuals and property

and to maintain a sense of justice in the community

EP 2,1.7a, b


Components of the criminal justice system

• Legislative • Law enforcement• Judicial• Corrections

EP 2,1.7a, b


Legislative component: The legislative component deems

certain acts to be criminal

Law enforcement component: The law enforcement component seeks to deter crime and to apprehend and prosecute lawbreakers

Judicial component: The judicial component determines if the laws are valid under our Constitution and prescribes penalties for illegal behavior

Corrections component: The corrections component administers penalties and performs rehabilitative functions

EP 2,1.7a


Criminal courts• Lower criminal courts• Trial courts• Appellate courts

EP 2.1.7a


Corrections options• Probation• Intermediate punishment• Incarceration

EP 2.1.7a


Juvenile delinquencyRefers to a youth who has committed a crime; a

status offense such as truancy, underage drinking,

curfew violation, or running away; or both

EP 2.1.7a


Juvenile justice agencies• Legislatures• Police• Prosecutors• Defense attorneys• Halfway houses• Social service agencies

EP 2.1.7a


Juvenile courtsHave several and often-competing goals:• helping children in need• treating or punishing juveniles who commit

crimes• protecting society from juvenile crime

EP 2.1.3b


Juvenile court process• Intake• Adjudication• Disposition

EP 2.1.3b


Juvenile correctionsCan be divided into community corrections, such as

probation, and institutional corrections

EP 2.1.3b


Juvenile correctional institutions• Foster homes• Shelters• Group homes• Halfway houses• Ranches and camps• Detention centers• Training schools

EP 2.1.3b


Dual system of justice• Every jurisdiction in the United States operates

separate systems for responding to juvenile and

adult criminal behavior• However, recent “get tough” policies have resulted

in upwards of 250,000 youth under the age of 18

being sent to the criminal justice system to be

adjudicated as adults

EP 2.1.3b


Differential treatment of minority youth

in the justice systemMany have addressed the issue of the differential

treatment of minority youth in the juvenile justice

system

EP 2.1.3b


“Cumulative disadvantage”Overrepresentation of minority youth in the juvenile

justice system tends to accumulate as youth are

processed through the system

EP 2.1.3b


Alternatives to get tough policiespolicies and programs that help juvenile offenders

acquire empathy for those whom they have affected

by their actions and make changes in their lives so

they are less likely to re-offend.

EP 2.1.9b


Alternatives to get tough policies (cont’d)• Prevention in early childhood• School-based prevention• Effective child welfare• Intervening with behaviorally troubled children

EP 2.1.9b


Rehabilitation programs• Reduce further criminal activity• Improve prison management• Help accomplish the mission of humane

punishment• Give prisoners something to do

EP 2.1.7a


Types of rehabilitation programs• Vocational training• Work release• Financial assistance• Prison industries• Treatment

EP 2.1.7a


Crime Prevention• In communities• In schools• In families• In labor markets• By criminal justice agencies after arrest• In places• By police

EP 2.1.9b


Views of Criminal Behavior• Psychological• Social• Economic• Interaction of personal characteristics

and the environment

EP 2.1.3a, 2.1.7a

.Copyright © 2012 Cengage Learning, Brooks/Cole Publishing

Social work and the criminal

justice systemSocial workers most frequently work in juvenile

courts, rehabilitation centers, prisons, and parole

programs

EP 2.1.1a, 2.1.9b


Social work and law enforcement• Crisis intervention • Victim assistance • Child abuse or sex crimes • Youth crime prevention • School dropout prevention• Drug and alcohol education

EP 2.1.1a, 2.1.8a, 2.1.9b

Chapter 13 The Role of Social Work in the Criminal Justice System

Education

Transcript of Chapter 13 The Role of Social Work in the Criminal Justice System