Social work played an active role in American corrections until the 1980s when the ethic of rehabilitation began to give way to a more conservative doctrine of retribution. Changes in the field of social work, characterized by preference of social workers to work only with certain populations, contributed to social work's diminishment in corrections. Although efforts at rehabilitation continue in corrections, the concept of restorative justice that emphasizes assisting victims, communities, and offenders in dealing with the consequences of crime is gaining acceptance in the field of corrections in the United States and in other countries. This study explored social work's presence in corrections, the decline of that presence, and how the concept of restorative justice can invigorate social work within the field of corrections. Several examples of social work's contemporary efforts to use the concept of restorative justice in the United Kingdom are presented.

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Restorative justice is an alternative paradigm for dealing with the effects of crime and wrongdoing that seeks to bring healing to victims, offenders, and the community. Although a key element of social work's ethical code is the obligation to work toward social justice, this has been viewed primarily as efforts to ensure a fair distribution of resources and opportunities. Yet justice is also restorative in nature–-seeking to restore and enhance victims, offenders, and communities to fuller functioning. This article systematically reviews 80 social work peer-reviewed articles dealing with restorative justice. The role of social workers in restorative justice programs remains largely unknown. Suggestions are made for enhancing social work practice in the restorative justice arena.

The authors review some statistical studies regarding the relationships between mental illness and criminal behavior prior to, and following, the deinstitutionalization period. This review supports the common opinion that since deinstitutionalization the jails of the United States house great numbers of the mentally ill. Even though mental illness, per se, is not synonymous with violence-prone behavior, the percentage of mentally ill in the jails is growing. Their offenses usually consist of misdemeanors, prompted by impulsivity and lacking both calculation and deviation. Chronic schizophrenics are highly represented among present day jail inmates, together with defendants suffering from antisocial personality disorder with polysubstance abuse or cocaine intoxication. The authors argue that a moral community, providing better social integration and stronger bonds among people will put a stop to this cyclical return of the past: the plight of the mentally ill and society's misdirected efforts and aims.