NCJ Number
64829
Journal
Indian Journal of Criminology Volume: 8 Issue: 1 Dated: (JANUARY 1980) Pages: 55-61
Date Published
1980
Length
7 pages
Annotation
THE PARAMOUNT ROLE PLAYED BY PROFESSIONAL SOCIAL WORKERS IN THE SOCIAL REINTEGRATION OF PRISON INMATES IS EMPHASIZED IN THIS STUDY OF THE EFFECTIVENESS OF CORRECTIONAL PROGRAMS IN INDIA.
Abstract
PROFESSIONAL SOCIAL WORKERS SHOULD BE INCLUDED IN ALL CORRECTIONAL TEAMS, AND ENTRUSTED WITH THE CLASSIFICATION OF INMATES AND THE FORMULATION OF INDIVIDUALIZED TREATMENT PLANS. THE REALITIES OF THE INDIAN CORRECTIONAL SITUATION, HOWEVER, FALL SHORT OF THE UNIFORM APPLICATION OF THESE CORRECTIONAL STANDARDS. CURRENTLY, PROFESSIONAL SOCIAL WORKERS ARE NOT EMPLOYED BY A NUMBER OF LOCAL PRISONS. SOCIAL WORKERS ARE UNIQUELY QUALIFIED TO RESTORE THE INMATES' FEELINGS OF PERSONAL WORTH (INDISPENSABLE FOR THE ACHIEVEMENT OF ALL SOCIAL REINTEGRATION GOALS) WHICH ARE OFTEN DESTROYED BY THE REGIMENTATION OF PRISON LIFE. SOCIAL WORKERS CAN ALSO PLAY AN ESSENTIAL ROLE IN RESTORING EX-OFFENDERS TO A NORMAL AND PRODUCTIVE POSTRELEASE LIFE BY WORKING CLOSELY WITH INMATES' FAMILIES TO ENSURE THEIR ACCEPTANCE AND SUPPORT FOR THEIR RELATIVES. STATISTICS SHOW THAT THE SUPPORT OF FAMILY AND FRIENDS PROVIDES THE STRONGEST INCENTIVE FOR EX-OFFENDERS TO FIND WORK AND RETURN TO THE MAINSTREAM OF SOCIETY. COMMUNITY-BASED SOCIAL SERVICES AND VOLUNTEER ORGANIZATIONS AND INDIVIDUALS ARE ALSO NEEDED TO SUPPLEMENT SCARCE GOVERNMENT-SPONSORED PROGRAMS. A LIST OF REFERENCES IS APPENDED. (LGR)