NCJ Number
53336
Journal
Kriminalistik Volume: 31 Issue: 12 Dated: (1977) Pages: 532-535
Date Published
1977
Length
5 pages
Annotation
THE CONCEPT AND USE OF SOCIAL SERVICE POLICE TEAMS TO DEAL WITH SOCIALLY ROOTED POLICE PROBLEMS ARE EXPLORED.
Abstract
THE INTRODUCTION OF SUCH TEAMS IN CHICAGO SUBURBS SINCE 1970 HAS IMPROVED NOT ONLY THE WORK AND COMMUNICATIONS BETWEEN POLICE AND SOCIAL WORKERS, BUT HAS ALSO ENHANCED THE PUBLIC IMAGE OF THE POLICE BY SHOWING THAT THE INSTITUTION CAN OFFER NONREPRESSIVE ASSISTANCE. THE WORK OF THE TEAM ENCOMPASSES SOCIAL ASSISTANCE AT THE REQUEST OF THE POLICE, CLOSE COOPERATION WITH OTHER SOCIAL SERVICE AGENCIES, AND SOCIAL WORK WHICH COMES TO THE ATTENTION OF THE UNIT IN THE COURSE OF ITS ACTIVITIES; FOR THESE FUNCTIONS A 24-HOUR CRISIS SERVICE HAS BEEN INITIATED. THE ROLES OF POLICE AND SOCIAL WORKERS DIFFER: WHILE THE SOCIAL WORKERS ATTEMPTS TO ASSIST THE CITIZEN SEEKING HELP BY STIMULATING HIS INNER STRENGTH AND PUTTING PUBLIC MEANS TO WORK IN HIS BEHALF, THE POLICE OFFICER IS PRIMARILY INTERESTED IN EXTERNAL AND INTERNAL CAUSES FOR DEVIANT BEHAVIOR AND IN PREVENTING DISTURBANCES TO PUBLIC SAFETY. BOTH PROFESSIONS REQUIRE KNOWLEDGE OF SOCIOLOGY AND EXPERIENCE WITH INTERPERSONAL RELATIONS, BUT THE SOCIAL WORKER EMPHASIZES HUMAN NEEDS AND THE POLICE OFFICER, CRIMINOLOGICAL NECESSITY. IN THEIR RELATIONSHIP TO THE CLIENT, SOCIAL WORKERS SUBSCRIBE TO THE PRINCIPLE OF ACCEPTANCE BY THE CLIENT AND THE POLICE OFFICER DOES NOT; COMMUNICATION IS ESSENTIAL IN BOTH CASES, BUT THE POLICE OFFICERS MUST PROBE, WHILE SOCIAL WORKERS SEEK TO ESTABLISH A POSITIVE RELATIONSHIP. BOTH MUST BE CONCERNED WITH INDIVIDUAL PROBLEMS, STRENGTHS, WEAKNESSES, AND MOTIVATIONS--THE POLICE USE THIS INFORMATION TO DETERMINE GUILT, AND SOCIAL WORKERS USE IT TO CHANGE THE CLIENT'S LIFE FOR THE BETTER. WHILE SELF-CONTROL IS NECESSARY FOR BOTH, THE SOCIAL WORKER IS SEEKING TO AVOID OVERIDENTIFICATION AND THE POLICE OFFICER INORDINATE TOUGHNESS DURING INTERVENTION. IT IS CONCLUDED THAT POLICE AND SOCIAL WORKER FUNCTIONS ARE NOT COMPARABLE DESPITE SIMILARITY. POLICE OFFICERS CANNOT REALLY BE CONSIDERED 'SOCIAL ENGINEERS.' A BIBLIOGRAPHY AND NOTES ARE FURNISHED. --IN GERMAN. (KMD)