CORRECTIONSSWk 121 Fields of Social Work

introduction

• Modern society’s response to those who violate the criminal law is not by eliminating the offender, but by assigning him a degraded supervised status for a specific period of time this process is called

corrections

• The administration of penalty in such a way that the offender is corrected, that is, his current behavior is kept within acceptable limits at the same time his general life adjustment is modified.

probation

• A process of treatment, prescribe by the court for persons convicted of offense against the law, during which the individual on probation lives in the communities and regulates his own life under condition imposed by the court (or other constituted authority) and is subject to supervision by a probation officer.

Law and legislation related on the field

• Presidential Decree No. 968 - known as the Probation Law of 1976 - which allow first offenders who are handed a jail sentence of not more that six years to apply for probation

• Republic Act 8369 (The Family Courts Act) - established a family court in every province and city in the country, giving it exclusive jurisdiction over child and family cases, and making it a state policy to provide a system of adjudication for youthful offenders.

Social Worker employ on this field

• The National Correction institutions for convicted adult offender are :

-National Penitentiary in Muntinlupa-the prison and penal farms in Davao, Zamboanga, Palawan-Occidental Institution for women in Alabang

Other employers :

• Victim Restitution Programs• Courts• Police Departments• Prisons• Juvenile Detention Facilities

Function of Social Workers in relation to juvenile probation

• Preparation of social case studies to facilitate legal decision-making

• Provision of counseling and other necessary services to the youth and his family throughout the period that the youth is on probation

• Referral and mobilization of community resources on behalf of the youth and/or his family

• Coordinating with the other groups/agencies which are engaged in activities relating to or affecting probationers

• Preparing reports/recommendations on the probationers which will be the basis for decision-making by courts

Roles and Functions

• Make recommendations to courts• Serve as expert witness• Do pre-sentencing assessments• Provide services for prison inmates and families• Providing therapy, drug and alcohol addiction and basic

life skills training

• Some become probation officers or parole officers• Help ex-offenders access supportive services upon

released from prison• Arrange job training, employment, counseling, and child

care