Forensic social work

The examples and perspective in this article may not represent a worldwide view of the subject. You may improve this article, discuss the issue on the talk page, or create a new article, as appropriate. (December 2010) (Learn how and when to remove this message)

Forensic social work is the application of social work to questions and issues relating to the law and legal systems.^[1] It is a type of social work that involves the application of social work principles and practices in legal, criminal, and civil contexts.^[2][3][4] It is a specialized branch of social work that focuses on the intersection of law and mental health. Forensic social work is an important part of the criminal justice system and provides an important link between mental health and the legal system.^[5]

Forensic social workers play an important role in the legal system.^[6][7] They assess individuals who have been accused of a crime, evaluate their mental health, provide expert testimony in court, and provide counseling and other services to victims and offenders. Forensic social workers may also be involved in the development of public policy related to mental health and criminal justice.^[7] Forensic social workers are trained to assess individuals in a variety of contexts, such as prisons, juvenile detention centers, and family court proceedings.^{[8][9][10][11]} They are knowledgeable about the criminal justice system and the psychological effects of crime and trauma. Forensic social workers also provide counseling and therapy to victims and offenders and may provide support to families who have been affected by crime or trauma.^[12][13][14] Forensic social workers must be knowledgeable about the legal system, mental health issues, and the psychological effects of crime and trauma.^[15][6] They must also be familiar with the ethical principles of social work and be able to work with a variety of clients and stakeholders. Forensic social workers must be knowledgeable about the law and be able to provide testimony in court.^[16][17] They must be able to communicate effectively with lawyers, judges, and other legal professionals. In order to become a forensic social worker, individuals must typically have a master's degree in social work. In addition, they must have a license to practice social work. Individuals who wish to specialize in forensic social work may take additional courses or pursue a doctorate degree in forensic social work.

This specialty of the social work profession goes far beyond clinics and psychiatric hospitals for criminal defendants being evaluated and treated on issues of competency and responsibility.^[18][16][19] A broader definition includes social work practice that is in any way related to legal issues and litigation, both criminal and civil. Child custody issues involving separation, divorce, neglect, termination of parental rights, the implications of child and spousal abuse, juvenile and adult justice services, corrections, and mandated treatment all fall under this definition. A forensic social worker may also be involved in policy or legislative development intended to improve social justice.^[20][21]

Forensic social work practitioners provide a wide range of services to individuals, families, and communities affected by crime, violence, and other legal issues.^[22][23] Typically, they work in collaboration with attorneys, criminal justice professionals, and other practitioners to ensure that clients' rights and needs are being met.^[24][25] Broadly, the functions of forensic social work practitioners include:

• Assessing client needs: Forensic social workers conduct comprehensive assessments of clients to identify their needs.^[26][14][27] This includes gathering information about their current situation, their history, and any factors that may be impacting their ability to make decisions or cope with their current situation.
• Developing treatment plans: Forensic social workers help create individualized treatment plans for clients.^[28][29][30] This includes setting goals, developing strategies, and collaborating with other professionals to ensure that clients are receiving the best possible care.
• Providing psychotherapy: Forensic social workers provide psychotherapy to clients and their families.^[16][31][27] This can include helping them cope with the trauma of being involved in a crime, as well as providing support, guidance, and education to help them make positive changes in their lives.
• Advocating for clients: Forensic social workers often act as advocates for their clients, advocating for their rights and needs.^[32][33] This includes helping them navigate the criminal justice system, ensuring that they understand their rights, and helping them access the resources they need.
• Conducting risk assessments: Forensic social workers conduct risk assessments to determine a client's likelihood of engaging in criminal or violent behavior.^[16][34] This assessment helps inform decisions about whether or not a client should be released from custody or placed on supervision.
• Facilitating communication: Forensic social workers often act as mediators, facilitating communication between clients, their families, and other professionals.^[1][17] This can include helping to resolve conflicts, encouraging dialogue, and supporting clients in making decisions.
• Educating clients: Forensic social workers often provide education and resources to their clients, helping them understand their situations and the options available to them.^[35] This includes providing information about their rights, the legal system, and other resources that may be available to them.
• Other functions:
  • Policy and program development
  • Mediation, advocacy, and arbitration
  • Teaching, training, and supervising
  • Behavioral science research and analysis

Forensic social work practitioners engage only in forensic activities within their areas of competence and expertise.^[36]

The first appointment of a psychiatric social worker in London was in 1936. The British Association of Psychiatric Social Workers was inaugurated only in 1930. Most of the expertise in England and Wales has been concentrated within the specialist hospitals. – Ashworth, Rampton and Broadmoor. At Broadmoor Hospital the first qualified mental health social worker was not employed until 1969.

The Central Council for Training and Education in Social Work (which was responsible for promoting education and training in social work between 1971 and 2001) defined forensic social work as "social work with mentally disordered people who present, or are subject to, significant risk and as a consequence are, or could be, in contact with the criminal justice system... The key purpose of forensic social work is to hold in balance the protection of the public and the promotion of the quality of life of individuals and by working in partnership with relevant others to identify, assess and manage risk; identify and challenge discriminatory structures and practices; engage effectively and identify, develop and implement strategies."^[37]

Forensic social work has been done in America since at least 1899,^[38] coming out in part of the settlement house movement, and the expansion of urban charity work.

This article may incorporate text from a large language model, which is prohibited in Wikipedia articles. It may include hallucinated information, copyright violations, claims not verified in cited sources, original research, or fictitious references. Any such material should be removed. (August 2025) (Learn how and when to remove this message)

The history of social work in Nigeria dates back to the late 19th century when Christian missionaries arrived in the country to spread their faith and provide humanitarian aid.^[39][40][41] These missionaries provided healthcare, education, and social services to the local populations, but their work was mainly directed at the wealthier classes.^[42][43] As the country developed, the government began to provide more social services, with social work becoming a formal profession in the 1950s. The first organized social work organization in Nigeria was the Nigerian Association of Social Workers (NASW), which was founded in 1950.^[44][45][46] This organization was responsible for the training of social workers and the development of a code of ethics for the profession. The association also established a social work journal and organized conferences and workshops on social welfare issues. In the 1960s, the Nigerian government passed the Social Welfare Act, which provided for the establishment of a national Social Welfare Board.^[47] This board was responsible for formulating and implementing social welfare policies and for monitoring and evaluating the performance of social workers. The board also established a National Institute of Social Work, which was responsible for the training of social workers and the development of standards and guidelines for the profession. In the 1970s, the government passed the Social Welfare Regulations which provided for the establishment of a National Council of Social Workers (NCSW).^[48] The council was responsible for setting standards for the practice of social work, for regulating the profession, and for administering the Social Welfare Act. The 1980s saw increased government involvement in the social work profession. The government enacted the Social Work Act of 1981, which provided for the registration of social workers and the establishment of a disciplinary tribunal to investigate and punish social workers who violated the code of ethics. The government also provided additional funding for the training of social workers and the development of social work programs. The 1990s saw significant changes in the social work profession in Nigeria. The government passed the Social Welfare (Amendment) Act of 1998, which provided for the establishment of a National Board of Social Workers. This board was responsible for the registration of social workers, the setting of standards for the profession, the investigation and discipline of social workers, and the accreditation of social work programs. In the 2000s, the government passed the Social Welfare (Amendment) Act of 2004, which provided for the establishment of a National Agency for Social Work.^[49] This agency was responsible for the implementation of social welfare policies, the regulation of social work, and the development of social work programs. It also established a social work council, which was responsible for setting standards for the practice of social work, for registering social workers, and for administering the Social Work Act. Today, the social work profession in Nigeria has grown significantly. The government has supported the profession through the provision of funding for training and the development of social work programs. The profession is regulated by the Social Work Council, which is responsible for setting standards for the practice of social work and for registering social workers. The profession is also supported by the National Association of Social Workers (NASW), which provides a platform for social workers to share their experiences and expertise.

In Spain, the inclusion of social workers in the administration of justice began in the early 1990s, which has posed significant challenges for professionals. In her book "The Social Worker as a Judicial Expert," Pilar Ruiz, a social worker who serves as an expert witness in the courts of first instance and instruction in Logroño, has provided contributions based on her experience in areas such as juvenile justice and child protection.^[50][51]

The social worker bridges the gap between hospital and community.

In the United States forensic social workers have a variety of functions, including social assessments for various courts, including family court, and providing assessments and aftercare for psychiatric hospitals.

In the U.K. forensic social workers have several duties, including applications for hospital admission and when necessary, arranging aftercare (under s.117 of the Mental Health Act 1983) and social assessments. Psychiatric social workers are now called "mental health professionals", "mental health social workers". An Approved Mental Health Professional is often located within a community mental health team, hospital or based in the local authority. Social workers fulfill the role of social supervisors to specify suitable accommodations for discharged patients, and to assess risk. They provide specialist social care reports to the Mental Health First Tier Tribunal.

The Department of Health in England currently identifies the following functions as being key to the social work role: • assessment • care co-ordination • report writing and presentation • working with individuals and families • working in collaboration with service users and carers • undertaking social supervision with conditionally discharged patients and the supervision of those subject to supervision and in the case of those within forensic community teams, community treatment orders • working with external agencies and multi-agency public protection arrangements (MAPPAs) • continuing professional development^[52]

Social workers in the community are commonly appointed as "social supervisors" to patients who are subject to conditional discharge has been discharge under section 41 of the Mental Health Act 1983. Social supervisors support the person in the community but also provide regular reports to the Ministry of Justice about their progress and may recommend their recall back to hospital.^[53]

This article may incorporate text from a large language model, which is prohibited in Wikipedia articles. It may include hallucinated information, copyright violations, claims not verified in cited sources, original research, or fictitious references. Any such material should be removed. (August 2025) (Learn how and when to remove this message)

Social workers in Nigeria provide individuals, families, and communities with the resources and support they need to cope with life's challenges.^[54][55] Social workers in Nigeria help to identify and address the social, economic and environmental issues that can lead to poverty, inequality and other forms of social injustice. Social workers in Nigeria typically provide a range of services to individuals, families and communities. These may include: • Providing emotional support and guidance to individuals and families in difficult situations. • Assessing and evaluating clients' needs, abilities, and circumstances. • Developing and implementing plans to help clients achieve their goals. • Referring clients to appropriate resources and services in the community. • Providing support and advocacy for those facing discrimination or social injustice. • Educating communities about social issues and advocating for policy change. • Researching and analyzing social problems. • Developing strategies to address social issues. • Participating in interdisciplinary teams on behalf of clients. • Participating in activities to promote social change. Social workers in Nigeria have an important role to play in improving the quality of life of those they serve, and in helping to create a more equitable and just society.

• Psychiatric social work
• Cessie Alfonso

• Aarvold Report 1973. Home Office and Department of Health and Social Security "Report of the Review of Procedures for the Discharge and Supervision of Psychiatric Patients Subject to Special Restrictions. Cmnd 5191.
• Barker, Robert L.; Branson, Douglas M. (1993). Forensic Social Work: Legal Aspects of Professional Practice. Binghamton, NY: Haworth Press. ISBN 1-56024-351-1. OCLC 26396157.

• Barnes M. Bowl R. & Fisher M. 1990 "Sectioned: Social Services and the 1983 Mental Health Act" . Routledge. Marian Barnes; Ric Bowl; Mike Fisher. (1990). Sectioned : social services and the 1983 Mental Health Act. London: Routledge. ISBN 0-415-01079-9. OCLC 19774036.
• BASW 2002 Code of Ethics
• Central Council for Education and Training in Social Work 1995 Forensic Social Worker. Competence and Workforce
• Bluglass R. 1992 "The Special Hospitals – should be closed" British Medical Journal Volume 305 p323-324.
• Chiswick D. &Cope R. (ed) 1995 "Practical Forensic Psychiatry" R.C.P.
• Cochrane R. 1983 "The Social Creation of Mental Illness". Longman. Raymond Cochrane. (1983). The social creation of mental illness. London u.a.: Longman. ISBN 0-582-29613-7. OCLC 8762783.
• Crichton J.1995 " Psychiatric Patient Violence: Risk and Response" Duckworth edited by John Crichton. (1995). Psychiatric patient violence : risk & response. London: Duckworth. ISBN 0-7156-2661-2. OCLC 32630233. {{cite book}}: |author= has generic name (help)
• Dale C. & Storey L.1999 "Nursing in Secure Environments". London UKCC
• Dent S. 1997 "The Home Office Mental Health Unit and its Approach to the Assessment and Management of Risk" International Review of Psychiatry Volume 9, p265-271
• Department of Health and Social Security 1988. Report of the Committee of Inquiry into the Care and Aftercare of Miss Sharon Campbell Cm 440
• Department of Health 1990 The Care Programme Approach for People with a Mental Illness Referred to the Specialist Psychiatric Services HC (90) 23 LASSL (90).
• Department of Health 1999 Local Authority Circular LAC (99) 23
• Department of Health and Welsh Office 1999 Code of Practice Mental Health Act.1983 Chapter 23.14.
• Department of Health 2000 "After Care Under the Mental Health Act, 1983". Circular LAC (2000)
• Eastman N. 1995 "Anti Therapeutic Community Mental Health Law" British Medical Journal Volume 310 p. 1081-1082
• Farrar M. 1996 "Government Policy on Mentally Disordered Offenders and its implementation" Journal of Mental Health
• Fook J. Ryan M. & Hawkins L. 1997 "Towards a theory of Social Work Expertise" British Journal of Social Work. Volume 27 No 3.
• Gostin K. 1983 "A Practical Guide to Mental Health Law". London, Mind. Larry Gostin; foreword by Lady Bingley; edited by Janet Manning. (1983). A practical guide to mental health law. Leeds: Mind: MIND. ISBN 0-900557-59-1. OCLC 59247957. {{cite book}}: |author3= has generic name (help)
• Gostin K. (ed)1985 "Secure Provision" Tavistock, London. edited by Larry Gostin. (1985). Secure provision : a review of special services for the mentally ill and mentally handicapped in England and Wales. London; New York: Tavistock. ISBN 0-422-78420-6. OCLC 16094943. {{cite book}}: |author= has generic name (help)
• HMSO Carers (Recognition and Services) Act 1995.
• Home Office 1990 "Provision for Mentally Disordered Offenders" Circular 66/90
• Home Office 1997 Mentally Disordered Offenders Survey of Inter-Agency Arrangements (Circular MNP 97)
• Home Office and Department of Health 1997 Mental Health Act 1983 "Supervision and After Care of Conditionally Discharged Restricted Patients: Notes for the Guidance of Social Supervisors".
• Home Office and Department of Health 1997 Mental Health Act 1983 "Supervision and After Care of Conditionally Discharged Restricted Patients: Notes for the Guidance of Social Supervisors".
• James D. 1999 "Court Diversion at 10 years : Can it work, does it work, and has it a future?" – Journal of Forensic Psychiatry Vol.10 No. 3
• Jones K. & Sidebotham R 1962 "Mental Hospitals at Work". Routledge and Kegan Paul. Mental Hospitals at Work. OCLC 323414.
• Jones K. 1972 "A History of the Mental health Services" Routledge and Kegan Paul. A history of the mental health services. London: Routledge and Kegan Paul. 1972. ISBN 0-7100-7452-2. OCLC 603321.
• Marchant C. "Secure Hospitals". Community Care 2 September 1993.
• McClelland N. 2002 (Lecture) "The Historical Aspect of the Development of the Role of the Specialist Mental Health Nurse". M.Sc. Psychiatry Univ. of Birmingham.
• Mental Health Act. 1983 HMSO
• Mental Health Review Tribunal Rules. The 1983 HMSO
• Mental Health Act 1983 Section 73 (2) HMSO
• Mental Health Act 1983 Section 42 (2) HMSO Prins H.1983.
• "The Care of the Psychiatric Prisoner – Discharge into the Community and its Implications" – Medicine, Science and the Law. Vo. 23 No. 2.
• Neighbors, Ira A. (2002). Social Work and the Law: Proceedings of the National Organization of Forensic Social Work, 2000. Binghamton, New York: Haworth Press. ISBN 0-7890-1547-1. OCLC 0789015471.

• Olsen M.R. (ed)1984 "Social Work and Mental Health – a guide for the Approved Social Worker" Tavistock. edited by M. Rolf Olsen. (1984). Social work & mental health : a guide for the approved social worker. London; New York: Tavistock; New York, NY : Tavistock Publications in association with Methuen. ISBN 0-422-79000-1. OCLC 12083433. {{cite book}}: |author= has generic name (help)
• Prior L. 1993 "The Social Organization of Mental Illness" Sage, London Lindsay Prior. (1996). The social organization of mental illness. London: Sage. ISBN 0-8039-8499-5. OCLC 28964935.
• Reed Report 1992 Department of Health and Home Office
• Roberts, Albert R.; Brownell, Patricia (July 1999), "A Century of Forensic Social Work: Bridging the Past to the Present", Social Work, 44 (4): 359–369, doi:10.1093/sw/44.4.359, PMID 10429576

• Roberts, Albert R. and David W. Springer (2007). Social Work in Juvenile and Criminal Justice Settings (3rd ed.). Springfield, IL: Charles C Thomas. ISBN 978-0-398-07676-4. OCLC 67405708.

• Robinson V.P.1930 "A Changing Psychology in Social Case Work" University of N.Carolina Press. Robinson, Virginia Pollard (1910). A Changing Psychology in Social Case Work. OCLC 1386907.
• Seebohm Report 1968 " The Committee on Local Authority and Allied Personal Social Services"
• Shepherd M. 1990 "Mental Health –the Role of the Approved Social Worker" Sheffield University and Community Care.
• Social Services Inspectorate 1994 "Inspection of Social Work in Medium Secure Units –The Reaside Clinic". Department of Health
• Social Services Inspectorate 1999 " Inspection of Ashworth Hospital Social Work Service" Department of Health
• Southard E.E. & Jarrett M.C. 1922 "The Kingdom of Evils" MacMillan Southard, Elmer Ernest; Jarrett, Mary Cromwell (1922). The Kingdom of Evils. OCLC 277145.
• Springer, David W. and Albert R. Roberts (2007). Handbook of Forensic Mental Health with Victims and Offenders: Assessment, Treatment, and Research. New York, NY: Springer. ISBN 978-0-8261-1514-0. OCLC 75087926.

• Szasz T. 1961 "Myths of Mental Illness" Harper The Kingdom of Evils. OCLC 14106320.
• Taylor P.J. & Gunn J. 1993, 1995 "Forensic Psychiatry : Clinical, Legal and Ethical Issues" Butterworth Heinemann. edited by John Gunn; Pamela J. Taylor. (1995). Forensic psychiatry : clinical, legal, and ethical issues. Oxford: Butterworth-Heinemann. ISBN 0-7506-2317-9. OCLC 32465838. {{cite book}}: |author1= has generic name (help)
• Vaughan P. & Badger D. 1995 "Working with the Mentally Disordered Offender in the Community". Chapman and Hall. Phillip J. Vaughan; Douglas Badger. (1995). Working with the mentally disordered offender in the community. London: Chapman & Hall. ISBN 0-412-56740-7. OCLC 32393198.
• Wix S. & Cushing H. 2001 – "Diversion from Custody". Ed Forensic Nursing and Mental Disorder in Clinical Practice – McClelland N. Humphries M. Conlon L. & Hillis T. Butterworth Heinemann
• Zito J. 1995 "Victims of Community Care" Mental Health Nursing Volume 15 No 6
• Zito J. 1998. " Lessons From the Outside". Nursing Times. 28.1.94.