Roundtable: Social Workers Within the Criminal Justice System

Session Submission Type: Roundtable Session

Abstract

Building on work from last year, social workers within ASC networked and discussed the challenges for social workers within the criminal justice system. As, now more than ever the opportunity exists for social workers to shape criminal justice advocacy and insert their voice into criminal justice conversations. Since the early formations of criminal justice system, social workers have had a strong presence (e.g., prevention, treatment, probation, and corrections) until the 1980s/1990s. During that era, the U.S. juvenile and adult system underwent a paradigm shift from a rehabilitative to punitive focus and ultimately, this shift edged social work values and social workers to periphery. Thus, there has been a lack of social work involvement in criminology and criminal justice professional organizations, research with persons affected by the criminal justice system, and placement of students in criminal justice settings. The current paradigm shift back to a rehabilitative response to offending, now more than ever is it essential that social workers become an influential voice in policymaking, research, and practice. This panel’s goals are to create an opportunity for criminal justice social workers to network, discuss contemporary issues, and strategize on being a stronger voice in the American Society of Criminology.

Sub Unit

• Area XIII: Roundtable Sessions

Chair

• Jennifer Roark, Utah State University

Discussants

• MaryAnn Thrush, Lincoln Memorial University

• Ebony Ruhland, Robina Institute of Criminal Law and Criminal Justice at the University of Minnesota Law School

• Monica Landers, University of South Florida

• Janice McCall, University of Pittsburgh

• Carina Gallo, Lund University