NCJ Number
64979
Journal
JOURNAL OF EDUCATION FOR SOCIAL WORK Volume: 10 Issue: 2 Dated: (SPRING 1974) Pages: 92-98
Date Published
1974
Length
7 pages
Annotation
GRADUATE SCHOOLS OF SOCIAL WORK ARE DISCUSSED AS MODELS FOR SCHOOLS OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE EDUCATION.
Abstract
ALTHOUGH CRIMINAL JUSTICE GRADUATE EDUCATION IS UNDEVELOPED, STRONG JUSTIFICATION EXISTS FOR CRIMINAL JUSTICE WORK AND STUDY BY SCHOOLS OF SOCIAL WORK. GRADUATE SOCIAL WORK EDUCATION CURRENTLY PROVIDES THE BEST PREPARATION FOR AND SERVICES TO THE TREATMENT OF OFFENDERS; HAS CURRICULUMS INVOLVING CASEWORK, GROUP WORK, AND COMMUNITY ORGANIZATION APPLICABLE TO CRIMINAL JUSTICE AND CAN APPLY ITS KNOWLEDGE TO CRIME AND CRIMINAL JUSTICE. A 1972 SURVEY INVOLVING 56 SCHOOLS OF SOCIAL WORK REVEALED THAT THEY WERE NOT EDUCATING MANY PERSONS INTERESTED IN WORKING IN CRIMINAL JUSTICE. OTHER STUDIES REVEAL THAT FEW EVEN OFFER COURSES IN CORRECTIONS OR CRIMINOLOGY, ALTHOUGH MANY SCHOOLS WILL PLACE GRADUATES IN CRIMINAL JUSTICE WORK. NEVERTHELESS, MANY CRIMINAL JUSTICE MANAGERS AND SUPERVISORS HOLD MASTER'S DEGREES IN SOCIAL WORK, AND MOST RATE IT AS THE BEST PREPARATION FOR THEIR WORK. SOCIAL WORK SCHOOLS OFFERING CRIMINAL JUSTICE COURSES TRADITIONALLY CONCENTRATE ON CORRECTIONS AND DEVIANT BEHAVIOR, WITH COURSES ON LAW AND DELINQUENCY; STUDY FINDINGS SUGGEST THAT THEIR GREATEST DIFFICULTY LIES IN CHANGING CURRICULUMS TO ALLOW BROADER CRIMINAL JUSTICE ORIENTATION. HOWEVER, ONLY 36 PERCENT OF THE 56 SCHOOLS SURVEYED IN 1972 INDICATE PLANS TO ADOPT CRIMINAL JUSTICE PROGRAMS OR COURSES; OTHERS PLAN JOINT PROGRAMS WITH LAW SCHOOLS. TWO CRIMINAL JUSTICE PROGRAMS ARE SUGGESTED TO IMPROVE SOCIAL WORK'S CONTRIBUTION TO THE STUDY OF CRIMES AND CRIMINAL JUSTICE. A TABLE AND FOOTNOTES ARE INCLUDED. (PAP)