NCJ Number
85665
Journal
Bewaehrungshilfe Volume: 28 Issue: 1 Dated: (1981) Pages: 17-25
Date Published
1981
Length
9 pages
Annotation
The social worker perspective reveals organizational constraints and perceived lack of commitment on the part of court officials in a 2-year West German pilot project that provided early assistance services to defendants at the detention hearing stage of court processing.
Abstract
Criticism is leveled at court administrators' reluctance in accommodating social work personnel in the court facility and in sharing the joint project's costs equitably between the two agencies involved. The locational arrangement provided close contact with clients, attorneys, and judges, but created a gap between the early court assistance staff and social services colleagues in the home office. Furthermore, the assistance envisioned by the social workers was to help clients through the proceedings up to trial; court authorities sought to restrict their involvement to the detention decision only. Legal assistants were supportive and individual judges did exhibit cooperation with the social workers and concern for the clients. The judicial system's commitment to social work services at the pretrial stage is questionable, however, since court administrators have not authorized project continuation past the pilot phase. Nevertheless, social workers believe their services to be necessary to alleviate arrested defendants' trauma in jail, the dissolution of their personal lives, and their economic distress. The service is also needed by judges for better informed decisions in case disposition. Aspects of the pilot experience are illustrated from two case histories.