NCJ Number
68744
Journal
NATIONAL PROBATION AND PAROLE ASSOCIATION JOURNAL Volume: 2 Issue: 3 Dated: (JULY 1956) Pages: 211-225
Date Published
1956
Length
15 pages
Annotation
THE INCREASING OCCUPATIONAL EXPANSION OF SOCIAL WORKERS INTO THE PROBATION AND PAROLE FIELD SERVICES, AND THE NEED FOR SPECIALIZED PROFESSIONAL EDUCATION TO ENABLE SOCIAL WORKERS TO MEET THE NEW CHALLENGES, ARE EXAMINED.
Abstract
INTENDED FOR A SPECIALIZED AUDIENCE OF PROBATION AND PAROLE OFFICERS, AS WELL AS SOCIAL WORKERS INVOLVED IN PAROLE AND PROBATION FIELD WORK, THIS ARTICLE OUTLINES THE PROFESSIONAL DILEMMAS OF SOCIAL WORKERS WHO ARE OFTEN RECRUITED FOR WORKING WITH CLIENTS WHO NEITHER SEEK NOR DESIRE THE SOCIAL WORKER'S SERVICES, INDEED REGARD HIM OR HER WITH MISTRUST AND HOSTILITY AS ANOTHER MEMBER OF THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE ESTABLISHMENT, IS DESCRIBED AS VERY DIFFICULT. ADDITIONAL PROBLEMS ARE CAUSED FOR THE SOCIAL WORKERS, WHO ARE TRAINED TO SYMPATHIZE AND EMPATHIZE WITH THEIR CLIENTS, WHEN THEY ARE EXPECTED TO PLAY AN AUTHORITARIAN ROLE AS REPRESENTATIVES OF THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE ESTABLISHMENT, NOT ONLY BY THEIR SUPERIORS BUT ALSO BY THE PUBLIC. THIS PAPER EMPHASIZES THE NECESSITY FOR SOCIAL WORKERS TO MAINTAIN A HIGHLY PROFESSIONAL SELF-IMAGE EVEN WHEN WORKING IN THE CORRECTIONAL FIELD, OFTEN REGARDED BY THE LARGER PROFESSION OF SOCIAL WORK AS A MARGINAL ACTIVITY. SOCIAL WORKERS ALSO NEED SPECIAL TRAINING TO MEET THE CHALLENGES OF WORKING WITH UNMOTIVATED AND LIMITED-CAPACITY CLIENTS, WHO ARE OFTEN THE PRODUCT OF CRIMINAL SUBCULTURES TOTALLY ALIEN TO THE AVERAGE SOCIAL WORKER. FOOTNOTES ARE PROVIDED.