The Social Worker In The Penitentiary

The social worker in the probation service is a key figure, as they are there to achieve the goals set out in the constitution. Even though you may not know it, the number of incarceration in the United States is the highest in the world at 716 per year. 100,000 people.

Furthermore, the number of prisoners is now close to 2,298,300. Taking into account the Constitution, custodial sentences and security measures must be oriented towards social reintegration.

Mercedes Gallizo, a Spanish politician, said that “Society knows that prisons can not only be areas of exclusion. Therefore, the prison system should be based on a reintegration orientation and respect for the rights of detainees. Without denying the frightening effect of deprivation of liberty, rehabilitation is achieved when, in addition to incarcerating aggressors, they receive the kind of training that will enrich them with skills. This is so that they can be re-integrated into society in the future and survive without resorting to crime ”.

In addition, she said that “the time has come for modern society to overcome the idea that prisons are the inevitable fate of all people who break criminal rules. It’s just not fair. ”

Although we live in a complicated time when it comes to how the judicial system works, it is necessary to keep in mind that as long as there are no changes, we must comply with the current criminal law. Therefore, we must also abide by the universal declaration of human rights, even if the punishment is imprisonment.

The social worker in the probation service has goals and guiding principles

Contrary to what was previously believed, the main goal of depriving someone of their freedom should be to rehabilitate them and prepare them for a future life in freedom. They must learn the social norms and the legislative mandate through any educational, technical and professional means.

In order to achieve the objectives, those responsible should take these principles into account:

• Individualization.
• The acquisition of an education.
• Prison treatment.
• The fulfillment of a sentence where the prisoner has social roots.
• Communication with the outside world and exit permits.

The social worker in the penitentiary: The role in prison institutions

This discipline is something new in the field of criminal justice. The social worker is a professional who acts as a link between the probation service and the outside world. Above all, they fight to prevent rootlessness for a person deprived of their liberty, by acting as a “mediator” between them and their immediate social and family environment.

They are part of the treatment council

This team also consists of other professionals such as:

• Deputy Director of Treatment Services.
• Social Deployment Centers.

• The Medical Assistant Director or Head of Medical Services.
• Deputy Director of the Social Deployment Center.
• A teacher or coordinator for the Social Deployment Center who intervenes in the proposals.
• The head of services.

The following functions of the social worker in prison institutions stand out:

• Perform evaluations of work leave, study, specialization and exit permit
• Preparation of reports for the management of probationary periods, for the allocation of incentives through the Progressive Council for Exit Permits and classification in periods of the technical progressive system as well as for all intramural activities.
• In addition, all these functions must include visits to companies, training centers and victims or relatives of the victims. Also to the residence of the said prisoner, depending on the type of procedure to be performed.

• They must also provide follow-up and supervision.

The social worker and his role in education

Displeasure with society as a whole cannot be disputed when it comes to the results of the punishments imposed by the court. It is true that something has gone wrong. Such errors are quite obvious in some cases. Yet the cases where the system fails are always news.

Let us highlight the importance of the discipline of social education in prisons. Although these centers may seem unfavorable for training environments, the system should offer new opportunities for their prisoners. Especially those with a proactive attitude who want alternatives to see the future in a positive way.

It is a complex and challenging task where different positions converge in one way or another and turn towards education in the hope of answers. This is despite the tendency to commit any criminal act whether psychological, medical or psychiatric.

This excludes the pedagogically specialized intervention because the willingness to change a person’s life and the relevance of the educational relationship that will drive this change are no longer considered.

Educational and recreational activities should aim to increase inmates’ awareness of the development of their lives outside this environment.

They should also be oriented to strengthen the sense of belonging to the community and carry out activities that seek the common good. Of course, these tasks may involve a change in the perspective of users’ own reality.

How can civic education help?

Social education can provide all sorts of benefits, such as:

• Social skills.
• Prevention of drug dependence.
• Literacy programs.
• Health education.
• Job training and implementation that facilitates the deployment of social labor.
• Civic education for all.

Ultimately, while promoting work in prisons is a serious challenge, it is crucial to the success of the system to provide people with values, skills and strengths that enable them to face life in freedom, in society and in an integrated manner.

We must not forget that successful rehabilitation also benefits the rest of the population.