The Social Worker In Prison Care

The social worker is a key figure in the penal care system, as they are there to achieve the goals set by the constitution. Even though you may not know it, the incarceration rate in the United States is the highest in the world at 716 per 100,000 people. Furthermore, the prison population is now close to 2,298,300 inmates. When the constitution is taken into account, detention sentences and security measures must be aimed at social reintegration.

Mercedes Gallizo, a Spanish politician, stated that “Society knows that prisons can not just be a place of exclusion. Therefore, the prison system should have a reintegration orientation and respect for the rights of persons deprived of their liberty as a basis. Without denying the frightening effect of deprivation of liberty, rehabilitation is achieved when these, in addition to incorporating aggressors, are to receive the type of education that will enrich them with skills. This is so that they can be integrated into society in the future and survive without resorting to crime.

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

Although we live in a complicated time when it comes to how the judicial system works, it is necessary to remember that as long as there are no changes, we must follow current criminal law. Thus, we must also comply with the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, even if the punishment is imprisonment.

Goals for the social worker and their guiding principles

Contrary to popular belief, 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 mandate of the laws in all pedagogical, technical and professional ways.

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

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

The role of the social worker in prison institutions

This discipline is something new in the field of criminal law. The social worker is a professional who acts as a link between the prison service and the outside world. Above all, they fight to prevent the extinction of a person deprived of their liberty and act as an “intermediary” between them and their immediate social and family environment.

They are part of the treatment board

This team also consists of other professionals, such as:

• Deputy Head of Treatment Services.
• Social placement centers.
• The Medical Assistant Director or the Chief Medical Officer.

• Deputy head of the social incarceration center.
• An educator or coordinator for the social placement center, who intervenes in the proposals.
• Head of the services.

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

• Execution of evaluations for work permits, study, special and return travel permits.
• Preparation of reports to deal with probation, for the allocation of incentives through the progressive table of exit permits and the 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, educational centers and victims or relatives of the victims, as well as to the inmate’s residence, depending on the type of procedure to be performed.
• They must also provide follow-up and supervision.

The role of the social worker in education

Dissatisfaction with society as a whole is undeniable when it comes to the consequences of punishments that are justified. It is true that something must fail. Such errors are quite obvious in some cases. Nevertheless, the cases where the system fails are always news.

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

It is a complex and challenging task where different positions converge in one way or another, and move on to education in the hope of answers. This happens despite the tendency to commit any criminal act whether psychological, medical or psychiatric. This excludes the pedagogical specialized intervention because the willingness to change a person’s life and the relevance of the pedagogical relationship that will drive that change are no longer considered.

The educational and recreational activities shall aim to increase prisoners’ awareness of the development of life outside that environment. They should also be oriented to strengthen the sense of belonging to the community and carry out activities that want the best for the community. Of course, these tasks may involve a change in the perspective of users’ own reality.

How can social education help?

Social education can provide all possible benefits, for example:

• Social skills.
• Prevention of drug addiction.
• Literacy programs.
• Health education.
• Job training and implementation that facilitates the introduction of social work.
• Civic education for all.

Ultimately, while promoting work in prisons is a serious challenge, giving people values, skills and strengths that enable them to face life in freedom, in society and in an integrated way, is crucial to the success of the system. . We can not forget that successful rehabilitation also benefits the rest of the population.