Specialized Social Work Education: The Case for Social Work with Offenders

Abstract

In the past, social workers have taken a lead in working with individuals involved with justice agencies and advocating for system change. Despite the fact that offender populations continue to increase in size and need, today there appears to be minimal involvement in this system by social workers. Using a mail survey of 400 social workers belonging to one of two U.S. professional organizations, we explore the impact of social work education on the likelihood of professionals choosing to practice with criminal offenders. Results indicate that social workers exposed to offender issues through specific coursework or offender internships during education are more likely to choose to work in justice settings. Implications of these findings for social work education are addressed.

Social Workers’ Perspectives on Effective Practice in Criminal Justice Settings

“…Specific educational preparation may be important to the consequent presence of social workers in criminal justice settings. Lowe and Bohon (2008) found that social work students who were exposed to criminal justice populations and settings through a specific course on offender social work or a field placement in a criminal justice setting were more likely to work within criminal justice settings later.…”

Social Workers in Corrections

“…According to Gumz, (2004), Lowe and Bohon (2008), and Scheyett et al, (2012), as the social work profession continued to evolve as a profession and more opportunities for social workers opened up, changes within the social work profession itself contributed to its disenchantment with the criminal justice system, and particularly with the corrections sector.…”