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"Forensic
social work can bridge the gap between the criminal
justice system and the mental health system and serve
clients who 'fall between the cracks'" (Brennan,
Gedrich, Jacoby, Tardy, & Tyson, 1986, p. 340).
"The
development of the theoretical base for forensic social
work draws from the fields of social work, criminal
justice, and psychiatry: case studies are presented
to demonstrate the varied roles of the forensic social
worker" (Brennan et al, 1986, p. 341).
"The
social worker's role has two polarized dimensions:
a social work function and a law enforcement or control
function. The polarities of case work and control
are essential" (Brennan, Gedrich, Jacoby, Tardy,
& Tyson, 1986, p. 341).
"The
ideal of the social work department is to form a worker-defendant
relationship, and as a result to facilitate growth
so that the defendant can meet his or her needs, legally
(Brennan, Gedrich, Jacoby, Tardy, & Tyson, 1986,
p. 341).
"The
forensic social worker role has two aspects: providing
treatment and protecting the community" (Brennan,
Gedrich, Jacoby, Tardy, & Tyson, 1986, p. 342).
"The
forensic social worker who tries to establish a confidential
therapeutic alliance with a client continually has
to weigh the need to protect the client and the community
from the client's violence, against the client's right
to confidentiality and the importance of fostering
the client's trust" (Brennan, Gedrich, Jacoby,
Tardy, & Tyson, 1986, p. 345).
"In
the course of working with highly resistive clients,
forensic social workers can contribute to the development
of theory and practice in the treatment of mentally
ill and antisocial clients" (Brennan, Gedrich,
Jacoby, Tardy, & Tyson, 1986, p. 341).
"A
shift in the circumstances of the deinstitutionalized
mentally ill took place between the 1960s when care
was provided by state hospitals and the 1970s, when
legal prosecution replaced this care" (Whitmer,
1983, p. 217).
"Forensic
social work is defined as "the practice specialty
in social work that focuses on the law and
educating law professionals about social welfare issues
and social workers about the legal aspects of their
objectives" (Barker, 1995, p. 140). This definition
incorporates the practice of social work in
family violence and the courts, juvenile justice and
adult corrections, and law enforcement (Roberts, 1997d).
Building on this definition, we operationally define
forensic social work as policies, practices,
and social work roles with juvenile and adult
offenders and victims of crimes" (Roberts &
Brownell, 1999, p. 359).
"Modern-day
forensic social workers practice in a harsh policy
environment. The theme of personal responsibility
pervades contemporary social welfare policy. Funding
for juvenile diversion and prison-based substance
abuse programs has been reduced sharply as the number
of juveniles and adults incarcerated for drugrelated
offenses has increased dramatically. In some states,
children as young as 13 can be tried in adult courts
for certain offenses. As the provisions of federal
and state welfare reform legislation devolve to the
local level of government, fragile families and high-risk
communities (defined by such indicators as poverty,
low birthweight, HIV positive, substance abuse, and
high unemployment and incarceration rates) are threatened
with disintegration and devastation" (Roberts
& Brownell, 1999, p. 359).
"Despite this, society has come a long way since
the opening of the first juvenile court in 1899 and
the first organization to assist abused women-the
Chicago Protective Agency (for women and children)-established
in 1885 (Roberts, 1996). Jane Addams and Julia Lathrop,
founders of the settlement house movement and the
legislation that led to the first juvenile court,
would be proud of the federal and state legislation
and appropriations for victim assistance and domestic
violence programs that have emerged in recent years.
However, they would be concerned about recent policy
trends that appear to reverse many of the achievements
for juveniles and other offenders begun during the
Progressive Era and that flourished during the 1960s
and 1970s. We trace the major policy shifts in social
workers' involvement and responsiveness to offenders
and victims during the past 100 years" (Roberts
& Brownell, 1999, p. 359).
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Topic
B - Forensic Psychiatry > Section B.2.0. Forensic Roles > Unit.B.2.4.
Forensic Social Worker
Australia
Canada 
International
United Kingdom
United States
