Social Work in Criminal Justice System – Notes
🔹 Role of Social Workers
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Rehabilitation: Help offenders reintegrate into society by addressing behavioral, emotional, and social issues.
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Counseling: Provide psychological support to offenders, victims, and their families.
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Reintegration: Assist in social, familial, and economic re-entry after imprisonment.
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Advocacy: Represent the needs of vulnerable populations within the criminal justice system.
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Crisis Intervention: Immediate support during arrest, trial, or post-release transitions.
🔹 Probation and Parole Officers
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Probation Officers: Supervise offenders sentenced to community service or rehabilitation instead of prison.
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Parole Officers: Monitor released prisoners to ensure they comply with conditions.
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Key Tasks: Regular check-ins, arranging employment/training, substance abuse treatment referrals.
🔹 Community-Based Corrections
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Definition: Programs that allow offenders to serve their sentences outside prison under supervision.
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Examples:
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Halfway houses
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Probation
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Parole
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Electronic monitoring
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Purpose:
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Reduce prison overcrowding
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Rehabilitate offenders in a community setting
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Promote restorative justice
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Benefits:
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Cost-effective
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Encourages social ties and employment
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✅ MCQ Questions – Social Work in Criminal Justice
1. What is the primary role of a social worker in the criminal justice system?
A) Arresting criminals
B) Conducting legal trials
C) Rehabilitation and reintegration of offenders
D) Sentencing decisions
✅ Answer: C
2. Who monitors an offender released conditionally from prison?
A) Social activist
B) Police officer
C) Parole officer
D) Jail superintendent
✅ Answer: C
3. Community-based corrections are an alternative to:
A) Education programs
B) Incarceration
C) Employment
D) Jury duty
✅ Answer: B
4. Which of the following is NOT a community-based correction method?
A) Parole
B) Probation
C) Solitary confinement
D) Halfway house
✅ Answer: C
5. Probation officers primarily work with:
A) Under-trial prisoners
B) Offenders serving death sentence
C) Offenders serving non-custodial sentences
D) Prison guards
✅ Answer: C
6. What is a key goal of community-based corrections?
A) Increase prison sentences
B) Focus only on punishment
C) Encourage reintegration and reduce recidivism
D) Abolish law enforcement
✅ Answer: C