NCJ Number
56180
Journal
JOURNAL OF EDUCATION FOR SOCIAL WORK Volume: 14 Issue: 2 Dated: (SPRING 1978) Pages: 98-103
Date Published
1978
Length
7 pages
Annotation
THE NEED TO GIVE SOCIAL WORK TRAINING TO POLICE OFFICERS AND TO GIVE SOCIAL WORKERS AN UNDERSTANDING OF POLICE WORK IS DOCUMENTED. SUGGESTED CURRICULA FOR BOTH TYPES OF TRAINING ARE BRIEFLY OUTLINED.
Abstract
THIS DISCUSSION POINTS OUT THE NEED FOR COLLABORATION BETWEEN SOCIAL WORK AND LAW ENFORCEMENT PROFESSIONALS, WITH PARTICULAR EMPHASIS ON THE NEED FOR COMPREHENSIVE TRAINING PROGRAMS WHICH COMBINE BOTH CRIMINAL JUSTICE AND SOCIAL WORK TRAINING. TWO TYPES OF PROGRAMS ARE ENVISIONED: ONE TO TEACH SOCIAL WORK SKILLS TO THOSE WHO ARE PRIMARILY INTERESTED IN LAW ENFORCEMENT AND THE OTHER TO TEACH SOCIAL WORKERS THE SPECIAL SKILLS NECESSARY FOR THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SETTING. THE HISTORIC NEED FOR SUCH A COMBINATION IS POINTED OUT BY QUOTING WRITERS DATING BACK TO THE EARLY 1900'S. THE DELINQUENCY CONTROL INSTITUTE OF THE SCHOOL OF PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION AT THE UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA IS DESCRIBED. THIS 12-WEEK PROGRAM FOR POLICE OFFICERS HAS MANY ELEMENTS WHICH COULD BE INCORPORATED INTO A POLICE SOCIAL WORK PROGRAM. IT OFFERS CLASSROOM INSTRUCTION AND SEMINAR DISCUSSION IN FOUR MAJOR AREAS: CAUSES OF CRIME AND DELINQUENCY, DELINQUENCY PREVENTION AND CONTROL, POLICE ADMINISTRATION TECHNIQUES, AND LEADERSHIP AND HUMAN RELATIONS. TWO CURRICULA ARE THEN SUGGESTED FOR POLICE SOCIAL WORKERS. THE INSERVICE SOCIAL WORK TRAINING FOR POLICE OFFICERS INCLUDES HUMAN BEHAVIOR, ABNORMAL PSYCHOLOGY, INSTITUTIONAL RACISM, CRISIS INTERVENTION THEORY AND TECHNIQUES, DELIVERY OF SOCIAL SERVICES, POLICIES AND PROGRAMS FOR CHILDREN AND YOUTH, AND SELF-DESTRUCTIVE BEHAVIOR. THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE TRAINING FOR GRADUATE LEVEL SOCIAL WORKERS INCLUDES THE SOCIOLOGY OF CRIME AND DELINQUENCY, CRIME AND DELINQUENCY PREVENTION, POLICE-COMMUNITY RELATIONS, ADMINISTRATIONS OF JUSTICE, PROCEDURAL LAW, AND JUVENILE AND CRIMINAL LAW. A BIBLIOGRAPHY IS APPENDED.