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Problems of Police-Social Work Interaction: Some American Lessons

NCJ Number
112448
Journal
Howard Journal of Criminal Justice Volume: 27 Issue: 2 Dated: (May 1988) Pages: 81-91
Author(s)
M Stephens
Date Published
1988
Length
11 pages
Annotation
There are many examples of relationships between police officers and social workers being hindered by suspicion and hostility.
Abstract
The problem is often located at street and fieldworker levels where divergent operational philosophies, practices, and goals create misunderstandings and perpetuate stereotyped attitudes. However, in Madison, U.S.A., there is a crisis intervention scheme looking after the mentally disturbed, and diverting them from the criminal justice system, that owes much of its success to close cooperation between the police and the scheme's social workers. Essentially, that cooperation was achieved by identifying the police role as case-finders and by responding to the operational needs of patrol officers. (Author abstract)