Police Social Work: Social Work Practice in Law Enforcement Agencies

This book provides a model for developing, implementing, and evaluating police social work and social service collaboration within the context of contemporary policing strategies, based on trauma-informed practice, cultural competency, and systems theory. It covers the practice of professional social work within law enforcement agencies, the types of social problems addressed, ethical and practice issues, collaborations with social services agencies, and expanded roles for police social work practice. It also includes case studies and other reference material to prepare students for police social work practice and serve as a resource for police officers, recruits, and students majoring in policing.

Format: Hardback
Length: 230 pages
Publication date: 31 January 2022
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd

Grounded in contemporary social work practice approaches such as trauma-informed practice, cultural competency, and systems theory, this comprehensive book offers a valuable model for developing, implementing, and evaluating police social work and social service collaboration within the framework of contemporary policing strategies. The practice of professional social work in law enforcement agencies is gaining significant importance as it contributes to the well-being of community residents and supports law enforcement agencies in achieving their community policing and problem-solving objectives. Spanning across 13 chapters, this book delves into various aspects of police social work, including:

The practice of professional social work within law enforcement agencies
The diverse range of social problems addressed by police social work collaborations
The ethical and practice-related challenges that arise when collaborating with law enforcement agencies, along with the essential skills required to navigate these complexities
An in-depth exploration of collaborations between law enforcement agencies and social service agencies, where the service providers may not possess professional social work backgrounds
A comprehensive model for fostering police social work collaborations and assessing their effectiveness
An expansion of the roles played by police social work practitioners, encompassing consultation, officer selection, training recruits and police officers, and providing support to their families

Police Social Work serves as a rich resource, featuring numerous case studies and other reference materials, to equip students with the knowledge and skills necessary for practicing police social work. Additionally, it serves as a valuable reference for police officers, recruits, and students pursuing studies in policing. By embracing the principles of trauma-informed practice, cultural competency, and systems theory, this book provides a valuable framework for advancing the field of police social work and fostering effective collaboration between law enforcement and social service agencies.

Dimension: 234 x 156 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780367676636