NCJ Number
142969
Date Published
1993
Length
150 pages
Annotation
Forensic social work is the specialty that exists at the interface between the social work and legal professions. Social workers in general have a greater interest in the legal aspects of their profession because of the increased litigiousness of society, the growing demand for social work expertise in legal settings, and the trend toward legal regulation of professionals.
Abstract
The introductory chapter describes the foundations of forensic social work, the emergence of a legalistic society, the role of social work in that society, and 10 specific functions of forensic social work. One of the primary functions of a forensic social worker is to present expert testimony in a court of law. Guidelines for the effective expert witness are outlined. Social workers must be aware of their legal liability and the potential for malpractice; criteria for malpractice liability and defensive or preventive practices are described. Some of the areas in which laws and ethics may conflict for social workers include child abuse, "duty to warn" laws, and confidentiality issues. Other chapters in this volume describe the use of written contracts between social workers and their clients, legal and professional credentials, adjudication through professional review, and preparations for litigation.