It is essential for forensic social workers to have a strong background in the American criminal justice system, since they assist clients who have legal issues. Students become familiar with the processes involved in both adult and juvenile systems, including arrest, prosecution, conviction and sentencing. They examine how the judicial system affects different types of clients based on variables such as race, gender, religion and mental health. Students learn how to handle clients who do not want their help or are potentially dangerous. In addition, they discover strategies for interacting with clients’ family members.
Forensic social workers need more than knowledge of the criminal justice system. They must be able to actively serve clients who are immersed in it. A clinical component teaches students how to interact with clients throughout the process. Students learn to interview clients, evaluate their condition and provide treatment. This covers a wide range of possible interventions, since clients’ needs vary depending upon the stage of the judicial process -- arrest to release—as well as gender, race, age and class.
Because drugs and alcohol are often involved in criminal activity, forensic social workers need to know what drugs are available, which are preferred and why. Since such a wide variety of drugs and alcohol are accessible, the coursework describes which drugs are usually associated with specific crimes. Also, social workers must have awareness of how their clients’ drug and alcohol abuse affects their families. Many, many clients have substance abuse issues, so information about intervention and recovery is vital.
Domestic violence is often closely connected to drug and alcohol abuse, so forensic social workers must make this connection. Beyond simple awareness, they need to be able to determine the severity of the abuse, deal with its effects and encourage change. Knowledge of factors that lead to domestic abuse is crucial in order to help prevent it. In addition, criminal and juvenile justice systems frequently become involved in abuse cases, so social workers need to know the legal processes involved.