Social Work Pillars of Prison Reform
Question 1.How can social workers contribute to prison or criminal justice reform efforts and initiatives?
This discussion question is informed by the following EPAS Standards:
3: Advance Human Rights and Social, Economic, and Environmental Justice
5: Engage in Policy Practice
Students
1. Social workers in prison settings possess a wide array of responsibilities that extend far beyond clinical work, playing a crucial role in not only assisting inmates but also influencing systemic policies. Their efforts encompass more than generalized counseling and reach beyond the confines of prison walls.
To illustrate, consider the case of a social worker at a female prison. Female inmates often grapple with various unique challenges, particularly if they enter prison while pregnant or with children at home. They face difficult decisions concerning the welfare and living arrangements of their children. In one instance, a female inmate who had recently begun her prison term was grappling with the well-being of her young children, as her mother was unable to provide long-term care. The social worker swiftly addressed the inmate’s mental health needs before facilitating contact with her family, bypassing the usual requirement for a phone card which the inmate had not yet acquired. Further, the social worker collaborated with state agencies to secure stable housing for the children, ensuring their safety and well-being. This instance exemplifies the comprehensive approach social workers employ to facilitate the smooth integration of inmates into the prison system while also extending support to their families.
Expanding their scope of influence, social workers in the justice system can find roles in various settings such as county jails, federal, state, and city parole and probation offices, and various court systems, including local, state, and federal jurisdictions. Their expertise also finds place in faith-based agencies, where they can serve as public safety personnel, court personnel, and even lawyers. They navigate the complex task of balancing the demands of the justice system with the needs of the offender, even participating in legislative actions to shape social policies and foster a balanced approach to justice (National Association of Social Workers, 2010).
Through their multifaceted roles, social workers serve as vital pillars in the justice system, advocating for the welfare of individuals and influencing broader policy changes to create a more compassionate and balanced justice system.
National Association of Social Workers. (2010). Criminal Justice Social Work in the United States: Adapting to New Challenges. NASW Home. https://www.socialworkers.org/LinkClick.aspx?fileticket=n8L3HaALWb8%3d&portalid=0
2. One way social workers can contribute to criminal justice reform efforts and initiatives is to donate to a group that advocates for prisoner’s right such as the American Civil Liberties Union which ensures that those who are incarcerated still have their rights being taken care of properly (Jansson, 2019). One could also volunteer with an organization that provides spiritual care to prisoners such as the Prison Fellowship ministry or the Prisoners For Christ Outreach program (local to my area). These ministries help provide the Word of God, encouragement, community, and decrease rates of misconduct (Jang & Johnson, 2022).
A way that social workers may contribute to policy in regard to criminal justice reform is through specific policy efforts that are tailored to women, the elderly, or the sick (Jansson, 2019). As these groups have more specific facilities and policies designated to them, they have much room for improvement of the conditions and situations in which they are incarcerated. As social workers, we can advocate as well for reform policies such as the Arizona Drug Medicalization, Prevention, and Control Act which gives nonviolent drug offenders a choice of rehabilitation/education or incarceration (Jansson, 2019).
In general, social workers can help contribute a less punitive attitude towards the potentially incarcerated or clients with criminal charges. Part of the problem with the judicial system is the intent to punish goes past the offender’s release date and experiences discrimination and prejudice after being released. When working with those involved in the criminal justice system, social workers can help change attitudes by treating them with respect and dignity. Changing attitudes can begin with small changes, one client at a time.
Reference:
Jang, S. J., & Johnson, B. R. Religion and Rehabilitation as Moral Reform: Conceptualization and Preliminary Evidence. American Journal of Criminal Justice, 1-27. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12103-022-09707-3
Jansson, B. S. (2019). Social welfare policy and advocacy (2nd ed.). SAGE Publications. https://bibliu.com/app/#/view/books/9781506384054/epub/OEBPS/s9781506384085.i1243.html#page_46
3. The Brookings Institute proposes a new funding opportunity for state correction departments to transform prisons. The Transforming Prisons Act, funded by the Department of Justice’s Bureau of Justice Assistance, would allow states to apply for funds to support innovative programs and practices that improve prison conditions for both inmates and staff. This dual approach would create a more just and humane prison experience. The funds could support the implementation of Cognitive Communities, training group facilitators and correctional staff, and expand therapeutic programming for improving pro-social behaviors through parenting classes, family engagement workshops, anger management, and artistic programming (A Better Path Forward for Criminal Justice: Changing Prisons to Help People Change | Brookings, 2022).
Since social work is one of the leading providers of mental health services in the nation, the National Association of Social Workers (NASW) supports national guidelines for interactions between law enforcement and seriously mentally ill people. They fear that frequently, mentally ill people may be mistaken for threats when they interact with the police, necessitating the necessity for social workers to take the lead in resolving this issue
(Social Justice Priorities, 2023)
A better path forward for criminal justice: Changing prisons to help people change | Brookings. (2022, March 9). Brookings. https://www.brookings.edu/articles/a-better-path-forward-for-criminal-justice-changing-prisons-to-help-people-change/
Social Justice Priorities. (2023). https://www.socialworkers.org/Advocacy/Social-Justice/Social-Justice-Priorities
4. Currently, 2.3 million people are incarcerated in the United States, and people of color are the ones mostly represented in jail. Incarcerated people face significant health issues, including higher rates of chronic diseases, infectious diseases, addiction, and mental illness compared with the general population. In Louisiana, they created a program called Prisoner to Patient (P2P) to address health issues due to being incarcerated. The specially aimed to develop community-informed health services for formerly incarcerated people, conducted research, and engaged in policy reform. Based on their research of the inmates that were incarcerated in Louisiana, they created the Formerly Incarcerated Transition Clinic, which provides care for acute and chronic illnesses for individuals transitioning out of incarceration (Wennerstrom, et, al., 2020).
Other ways social workers can contribute to prison reform efforts is by advocating for:
Improve conditions of confinement: Provid appropriate medical triage on entry into jails and prison, improve access to substance use treatments, reduce the usage of solitary confinement (especially for punitive purposes), access to healthy food, and more outdoor exercise. Triage for sick call should be performed by licensed care professionals and lack of findings from medical visits should not be grounds for punishment (Wennerstrom, et. al., 2020).
Training: Training programs in correctional medicine and in anti-racial practices (Wennerstrom, et. al., 2020).
Pre-trial detention: Pre-trial detention is overused in most countries and most of the population for pre-trial prisoners are higher than the convicted prison population. Conditions in pre-trial detention centers are often much worse than those for convicted prisoners. Pre-trial detainees lack resources which means they do not have legal advice and assistance which may result in overstay on remand, and/or not receiving a fair trail. Ways to improve those issues is by improving them access to legal and paralegal aid programs, improve communication with management, better cooperation between courts/prisons, and to speed up the processing of cases, as well as assisting with the development of safeguards for pre-trial detainees (independent monitoring/inspection mechanisms) (Why promote prison reform, n.d.).
References:
Wennerstrom, A., Reilly, B., Sugarman, M., Henderson, N., & Niyogi, A. (2020). Promoting Health Equity and Criminal Justice Reform: The Louisiana Experience. American journal of public health, 110(S1), S39–S40. https://doi.org/10.2105/AJPH.2019.305446
Why promote prison reform (n.d.). Office of drugs and crime. Welcome to the United Nations.https://www.unodc.org/unodc/en/justice-and-prison-reform/prison-reform-and-alternatives-to-impriso
Questions 2: How might social work research inform dialogue on efforts to reform the immigration system?
1.S ocial workers and counselors play a crucial role in society as community advocates, social policy change agents, and providers of counseling, information, and referral services. Many children of illegal immigrants live in fear of their parents and potential deportation without substantial immigration reform. These children may benefit from social work and therapy services to process their anxiety. Social workers contribute to research on the need for comprehensive immigration reform and the impact of immigration legislation on Latino families. Further study is needed to understand the implications of toxic stress and trauma on children of immigrants and Latino families. Further research is needed on undocumented victims of domestic violence and the impact of legal immigration channels on the US economy. (Romero et al.,2013).
Sylvia Romero, & Melissa Romero Williams. (2013). The Impact of Immigration Legislations on Latino Families: Implications for Social Work. Advances in Social Work, 14(1), 229–246.
2. Social workers tend to have the power to act in ways that combat unjust policies, as well as to help shape public values towards the promotion of justice. When it comes to immigrant and refugee rights, it is of the utmost importance to social workers throughout the United States. Therefore, social work research may inform dialogue on efforts to reform the immigration system by providing important insight into the challenges that the immigrants are faced with. For example, helping immigrants with navigating an unfamiliar system by providing mental health resources, securing education, housing, and employment (Haider & Smith, 2017).
Reference:
Haider, A. & Smith, J. (2017). Social workers and the protection of immigrant and refugee rights. https://crownschool.uchicago.edu
Policy Analysis and Advocacy Skill Building: Immigration, Criminal Justice, And Military.
Chapter Social Welfare Policy and Advocacy: Advancing Social Justice Through Eight Policy Sectors
Read Chapters 13 and 14 from Social Welfare Policy and Advocacy: Advancing Social Justice Through Eight Policy Sectors.
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