NCJ Number
37188
Date Published
1975
Length
11 pages
Annotation
SOCIAL WORK IN PRISON WELFARE SHOULD COVER THE WHOLE SPECTRUM OF THE TREATMENT OF OFFENDERS RATHER THAN SERVING SPECIAL ASPECTS WITHIN SPECIALIZED INSTITUTIONS.
Abstract
POSTULATING THIS, A NEW CONCEPT OF SOCIAL CARE CONCERNING THE DELINQUENT WAS INTRODUCED IN ZURICH, SWITZERLAND. CONTINUOUS SOCIAL CARE FROM THE BEGINNING OF THE CRIMINAL PROCEDURE TO THE POINT OF REHABILITATION IS APPLIED. IN TRADITIONAL AFTER-CARE WORK, HELP WAS USUALLY OFFERED AFTER THE COMPLETION OF DETENTION. EXPERIENCE SHOWED THAT SUCCESSFUL AID IN RESOCIALISATION MUST BEGIN AT A MUCH EARLIER STAGE. THE ZURICH DISTRICT JAIL OFFERS A NEW SERVICE WHICH ALLOWS FOR EXTENSIVE AID IMMEDIATELY AFTER ARREST IF THE PERSON UNDER ARREST SO DESIRES. THUS SOCIAL CARE IS MADE AVAILABLE AT THE MOMENT OF HIGHEST EMOTIONAL AND EXISTENTIAL NEEDS. THE PSYCHOLOGICAL ADVANTAGE OF BEING IN CONTACT WITH ONE SOCIALWORKER THROUGHOUT THE WHOLE PENAL PROCEDURE IS EVIDENT. THE INTRODUCTION OF THE EXPERIMENT IN ZURICH AND THE RESULTING EXPERIENCES ARE DESCRIBED. THE RESULTS OF THE 3-YEARS' EXPERIMENTAL PERIOD SHOWED THAT COMPARED TO TRADITIONAL SOCIAL CARE OFFERED THROUGH DIFFERENT INSTITUTIONS, THIS PROGRAM OF CONTINUOUS CARE LEADS TO A MORE EFFECTIVE REHABILITATION. ZURICH DECIDED TO EXPAND THIS PROGRAM OF CONTINUOUS SOCIAL CARE FOR OFFENDERS THROUGHOUT THE ZURICH (POPULATION OVER ONE MILLION). (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED) --IN GERMAN. SUMMARIES IN ENGLISH, FRENCH, AND GERMAN