U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government, Department of Justice.

NCJRS Virtual Library

The Virtual Library houses over 235,000 criminal justice resources, including all known OJP works.
Click here to search the NCJRS Virtual Library

Contribution of Social Work in Solving the Crime Problem in South Africa

NCJ Number
164578
Journal
Acta Criminologica Volume: 9 Issue: 1 Dated: (1996) Pages: 33-39
Author(s)
F Howes
Date Published
1996
Length
7 pages
Annotation
This article examines the role of social work in addressing the crime problem in South Africa and draws implications for social-work education.
Abstract
Crime-focused social work occurs within the parameters set by the legal system and has to contribute to the aims of the legal system. In a responsive legal system, social justice is important, and therefore the contribution of social work within the legal system is no longer only to bring about change in individual offenders, but concerns the operation of the criminal justice system and the crime problem as a whole. To reduce offending, crime must be addressed from an individual and a wider social perspective and in a way that challenges discrimination and disadvantage. Criminal justice processes should incorporate the victim's perspective and involve the community in justice processes, thus promoting community reintegration and social cohesion. Social-work services should be available to courts for screening offenders, presentence investigations, diversion screening, and advice on and assistance with community-based sentencing options. Social work on behalf of inmates should aim to counteract a destructive prison subculture, assist in reintegration upon release, and help in preserving and enhancing an inmate's family life. Social work should also focus on providing juvenile offenders with a community-based sentence that involves the youth's family and the community. Following a description of types of conceptual frameworks for social-work practice in the area of crime and criminal justice, this article draws implications for social work education regarding the components of knowledge, skill, and attitude. A 24-item bibliography