Social Work Practice in the Criminal Justice System

By: Patterson, George T.

This fully revised and expanded third edition presents an overview of the criminal justice system for social workers, exploring the networks and institutions which comprise it. Integrating social work ethics and a commitment to social justice, each chapter explores social work practice roles to address social problems within the criminal justice system while promoting the development of knowledge, skills, and critical reflection.

This textbook covers four key areas for social work practice (legislation, law enforcement, courts, and corrections) as well as providing insights into police social work, forensic social work and correctional social work. The revised edition has also been updated to include four new chapters on:

- The global criminal justice and social work collaboration issues associated with immigrants, refuges and asylum seekers

- Social worker safety in criminal justice settings

- Vulnerable populations with a discussion on risk and resilience

- International criminal justice social work

Every chapter concludes with a helpful summary of social work practice implications, alongside key terms and suggestions for further reading. Examining the challenges and opportunities of social work practice in the criminal justice system, this is the ideal textbook for social work instructors, students, and practitioners working in this field.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1041102747
• ISBN13: 9781041102748
• Release Date: August 2026
• Publisher: Routledge
• Length: 238 Pages