Course aims:

Understanding the role of social work in the justice system
To know the social needs and problems of the delinquents
Developing professional competences for implementing intervention strategies and programs for the social reintegration of delinquents;
Acquiring specific ethical norms and using them in solving ethical dilemmas from professional practice

Course Entry Requirements:

None

Course contents:

1. The relationship between deviance, crime, social assistance: the role of social assistance. 2. Social reaction to deviance: punishment, treatment, assistance, alternative approaches. 3. History of social work with offenders. 4. The prison population in Romania: structure, evolutions, detainees with special needs. 5. The legal context of social work intervention in the justice system. 6. Individual and group methods and techniques in the social work of delinquents: exploration of criminal conduct, evaluation and intervention at the level of values and convictions, improvement of self-esteem, personal and professional development, evaluation and modification of violent behavior. 7. Community intervention: the role and involvement of the family, community programs, alternatives to incarceration, support services.

Teaching methods:

Lecture, discussions and debates, workshops

Learning outcomes:

Understanding the specific role of social work in the justice system Gain the ability to identify and collect relevant information about crime and offender, to evaluate and analyze them for the preparation of the intervention. Gain the ability to design and implement interventions at the individual, group and community level with offenders to correct criminal behavior and reduce the risk of recidivism.

Learning outcomes verification and assessment criteria:

60% exam, completeness and accuracy of knowledge 40% project, the ability to use knowledge to solve problems

Recommended reading:

Chapman, Tim, Hough, Michael, Evidence Based Practice. A guide of Effective Practice, Home Office, London, 1998, 6-66.
Lupton,C.; Gilespie, T., Working with violence London, 1994, 3-48.
Smith D., Social work with offenders. In: Adams R., Dominelli L., Payne M., Campling J. (eds) Social Work., Palgrave, london, 1998, 4-84.