Prison Social Work
Prison Social Work
- Jason Matejkowski, Jason MatejkowskiSchool of Social Welfare, University of Kansas
- Toni JohnsonToni JohnsonSchool of Social Welfare, University of Kansas
- , and Margaret E. SeversonMargaret E. SeversonSchool of Social Welfare, University of Kansas
Summary
This entry provides a description of prison social work and the array of responsibilities that social workers in prison settings have, including intake screening and assessment, supervision, crisis intervention, ongoing treatment, case management, and parole and release planning. The authors provide the legal context for providing social-work services to prisoners and delve into issues involving three specific populations of growing concern to corrections officials and to prison social work: women inmates, inmates who are parents, and inmates with mental illness. The tension between the goals of social work and corrections is explored and opportunities for social workers to apply their professional values within the prison setting are highlighted.
Subjects
- Criminal Justice
- Populations and Practice Settings
- Social Justice and Human Rights
- Social Work Profession
