Social Work in The Criminal Justice Field

By: Samantha Martinez

I am considering minoring in social work. The interest grew in me because I love helping people who are in need. Recently, in my intro to social work class, I learned about the role social workers play in the criminal justice field.Social work is very important in the criminal justice field. They are referred to as criminal justice social workers and forensic social workers. First of all, a social workers role is to help people, groups, and families who have financial or emotional problems. As a criminal justice social worker, they may help criminals, juveniles, victims. Some are even licensed to treat mental illnesses. According to the U.S Bureau of Statistics, social workers must have compassion and empathy for the people they work with ( Beth Greenwood).
Social workers help everyone, especially those who have mental illnesses and need extra care in prison. They also work with lawyers, judges, and prosecutors. Social workers can play a role as a probation officer, parole officer, and diversion program manager, by working with juvenile officers. They can also be therapists to prisoners.  An important role of social workers in the criminal justice field is them helping people who were victims of domestic violence. Correctional social workers work in courts, probation offices, and correctional facilities. In correctional facilities, social workers counsel and help criminals keep in contact with their family. They also involve the criminal in community service. As Armando T. Morales stated in 'Social Work,' " The social worker's involvement with the criminal justice can begin at the time of arrest and terminate at the person's release."



http://www.mswguide.org/careers/criminal-justice-social-work/
http://work.chron.com/social-workers-position-criminal-justice-23582.html
Sheafor, Bradford W., Armando Morales, and Malcolm E. Scott.  Social work: a profession of many faces/ Bradford W. Sheafor, Armando T. Morales, Malcom E. Scott. Boston: Allyn & Bacon, 2012. Print.