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SOCIAL WORK AND CORRECTIONS Another View
Author(s) -
VOIT ECFORD
Publication year - 1975
Publication title -
criminology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.467
H-Index - 139
eISSN - 1745-9125
pISSN - 0011-1384
DOI - 10.1111/j.1745-9125.1975.tb00670.x
Subject(s) - neglect , work (physics) , field (mathematics) , psychology , social psychology , sociology , positive economics , epistemology , economics , engineering , mechanical engineering , philosophy , mathematics , psychiatry , pure mathematics
Based on the views expressed in the preceding article, this paper critically examines the “case” for a social work contribution to the field of corrections. It argues that social work as a discipline, largely attributable to a characteristic neglect of empirical assessment, has tended disproportionately to emphasize altruistic intentions over practice consequences, and has focused both conceptually and practically on the empirically questionable enterprise of individual treatment to the relative exclusion of the greater potentials for change associated with correctional administration and social policy. It is suggested that social work must begin to take a more flexible and open posture with respect to its theories and methods in an effort to strengthen its clinical practice skills and to facilitate its contribution to the structure and values of correctional programs .