The Critical Role of Social Workers in Reducing Crime

Social workers are professionals who work to improve the well-being of other individuals. They are community-minded and perform a wide range of duties, such as helping people get access to food stamps, healthcare, and childcare and intervening in mental health crises and child abuse cases. 

Social workers in criminal justice, such as correctional and prison social workers, work with clients who are or may be incarcerated. The duties of these social workers entail ensuring public safety, returning individuals as productive members of the community, and addressing the mental health needs of clients.

Prisons can be challenging places to work, and social workers have fought for years to gain influence in this environment.

The incarceration rates in prisons in the U.S. have been steadily climbing over the last few years as crime rates increase, and social workers play an important role in supporting prisoners who are returning to society while ensuring that recidivism is reduced. 

Social determinants of health 

The social determinants of health recognize that the environment in which individuals live has a major impact on their quality of life, health risks, overall health and outcomes.

There are five categories of social determinants of health: community and social context, built environment, healthcare quality and access, education quality and access, and economic stability.

Together, these factors show that to overcome inequalities, it is not enough to simply tell people that they should stay employed and make healthier food choices. 

Social workers have a deep understanding of these challenges. They have been trained to work with their clients to help them overcome these inequalities through actionable measures.

A professional education such as the social worker online program from Spalding University trains them to be agents of justice, social change and peace.  

Social workers aim to help their clients and improve the environment in which they live. They take the time and effort to learn more about the external factors that may be hurting their clients.

The clients that social workers work with are usually oppressed, homeless or vulnerable, so it is important to take these points into consideration.

Their goal is to enhance the quality of life for their clients and support them in every way so they can overcome their challenges. The key to enhancing community safety is good health, and social workers work toward this goal tirelessly.  

Social determinants of health negatively impact community safety

According to the World Prison Brief, the incarceration rate in the U.S. is currently one of the highest in the world.

The safety of the communities in any country is impacted by social determinants of health. These include:

■ Economic stability: A considerable portion of the American population lives in poverty and does not have easy access to healthcare, housing and healthy food. Rising out of poverty is easier for those with steady employment. Social workers help people by providing them with access to housing assistance, food, childcare, and career counseling so they can improve their chances of finding employment.

■ Education: Individuals who are experiencing discrimination and those from low-income families are likely to struggle with education. This negatively impacts their chances of gaining stable employment. Social workers help clients in school environments and at home to ensure that children get access to education.  

■ Healthcare: Social workers play an important role in ensuring that communities have access to healthcare services. Good health and community safety are interlinked, and with the COVID-19 pandemic, access to healthcare has become more important than ever before. 

■ Neighborhood environment: Those living in violent neighborhoods are more prone to risky behaviors such as substance use, unsafe sex, increased anxiety, premature death and behavioral issues. Social workers help these individuals move from violent communities to safer neighborhoods.

■ Social context: Social workers support those who lack community or social support. They also intervene in situations where relationships and families are at risk. Positive relationships with others reduce the physical and mental impacts of discrimination and crime, so social workers help clients to build healthy relationships. 

Social workers help reduce crime 

Social workers often have to be on the front lines, much like the police. In many situations, communities may not trust the police. Social workers play an important role in society in helping build healthier and safer communities. 

In the last few years, confidence in the police has been quite low, while the gap between the confidence of black Americans and white Americans in the police has been widening.

Concerns about racism, use of force and police brutality have had a negative impact on communities. Social workers play an important role in such situations by being an advocate for the community and collaborating with the police to make communities safer.

Collaboration between police and social workers is not new and has helped address many societal issues, such as substance and alcohol abuse, juvenile delinquency, crime and mental illness.    

A joint effort between the two parties can help advance society. Human Rights Watch suggests that social workers are well-equipped to handle many different societal issues, and when they step in to help, public safety can be enhanced. 

Social workers provide interventions in the communities they serve for conditions such as mental health issues and substance abuse. They also prioritize providing support to the community through services such as childcare, education and career training.

They reduce the chances of an individual turning to a crime by improving their quality of life. Finally, they play an important role for those who have been released from prison by providing them with access to job training, education and affordable healthcare.  

Social workers are dedicated and compassionate professionals who work to improve the lives of other individuals. Regardless of their specialization, they focus on improving social problems, social injustice and human dignity.

These professionals prioritize community safety, and they know how important it is to address health inequalities by improving existing systems to make communities safer.

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