Human Services/Social Work Students with Criminal Justice Involvement and Internships: A Closer Look at the Prison to College to Career Pathway

Authors

  • Lisa Hale Rose Borough of Manhattan Community College of the City University of New York

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.55370/dsj.v2i2.675

Keywords:

Criminal Justice, Human Services and Social Work Education, Adult Learning

Abstract

This qualitative study looks at the issues and dilemmas that confront human services students who have had contact with the criminal justice system, through interviews with students and professionals in the field who typically supervise interns.  Researchers note an increase in the numbers of students, many of who are adult learners, with criminal justice histories, and who have an interest in the helping professions. Interviews reveal unanticipated roadblocks when students must be placed in internships.  Thus, justice involved students may encounter unforeseen barriers to a career in human services, in spite of the open access community colleges provide, and the human services professional emphasis on social justice. Students describe the process of disclosing their justice involvement as both arduous and healing and profoundly important for themselves, their fellow students, and future clients.  Researchers also note that agencies do not have a coherent policy around accepting justice involved student interns.

Author Biography

Lisa Hale Rose, Borough of Manhattan Community College of the City University of New York

Professor of Human Services, Department of Social Science, Human Services and Criminal Justice

References

Alexander, M. (2012). The new Jim Crow: Mass incarceration in the age of colorblindness. The

New Press.

Anastas, J. W. (2010). Teaching in Social Work: An Educator’s Guide to Theory and Practice. New York: Columbia University Press.

Bourdieu, P. (1989). Social space and symbolic power. Sociological theory, 7(1), 14-25.

Brodersen, M., Swick, D., & Richman, J. (2009). Risks and mitigating factors in decisions to accept students with criminal records. Journal of Social Work Education, 45(3), 349-363.

Clark, E. J., Coleman, M., Collins, S., Herman, C., Sharon Issurdatt, D. C. S. W., Meruvia, R. T., ... & Jones, A. (2010). National Association of Social Workers. Encyclopedia of Social Work.

Cowburn, M., & Nelson, P. (2008). Safe recruitment, social justice, and ethical practice: should people who have criminal convictions be allowed to train as social workers? Social Work Education, 27(3), 293-306. doi:10.1080/02615470701380394

Dougherty, K. J., & Townsend, B. K. (2006). Community college missions: A theoretical and historical perspective. New Directions for Community Colleges, 2006(136), 5-13. doi:10.1002/cc.254

Emirbayer, M., & Williams, E. M. (2005). Bourdieu and social work. Social Service Review, 79(4), 689-724.

Emsellem, M. (2010). Collateral consequences of criminal convictions: Barriers to reentry for the formerly incarcerated. In Hearing before the House Committee on the Judiciary, 111th Congress.

Epperson, M. & Pettus-Davis, C. (2015). Smart Decarceration: Guiding Concepts for an Era of Criminal Justice Transformation

Gonzalez, J. (2012). Education for all? 2-year colleges struggle to preserve their mission. Chronicle of Higher Education, 58(34), A1-A12.

Halkovic, A., & Greene, A. C. (2015). Bearing Stigma, Carrying Gifts: What Colleges Can Learn from Students with Incarceration Experience. The Urban Review, 47(4), 759-782.

Leedy, G. M., & Smith, J. E. (2005). Felony convictions and program admissions: Theoretical perspectives to guide decision-making. Journal of Social Work Values and Ethics, 2. Retrieved from http://www.socialworker.com/jswve/content/view/16/34/

Magen, R. H., Emerman, J. (2000)). Should convicted felons be denied admission to a social work education program? Yes!. Journal of Social Work Education, 36(3), 401-413.

Merriam, S. B. and Associates(2002). Qualitative research in practice: Examples for discussion and analysis. San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass.

Nash, C., Zaback, K., & State Higher Education Executive Officers. (2011). Degree production trends by program area: A national analysis 2004-2009.Ipswich, MA:ERIC.:

National Association of Social Workers (NASW). (2008). Code of ethics. Retrieved from http://www.socialworkers.org/pubs/code/code.asp

National Organization for Human Services. (1996). Ethical standards for human service professionals. Retrieved from http://www.nationalhumanservices.org/ethical-standards-for-hs-professionals

Nelson, P., & Cowburn, M. (2010). Social work admissions: Applicants with criminal convictions—the challenge of ethical risk assessment. British Journal of Social Work, 40(4), 1081-1099. doi:10.1093/bjsw/bcq022

Rose, L. H. (2015). Community College Students With Criminal Justice Histories and Human Services Education: Glass Ceiling, Brick Wall, or a Pathway to Success. Community College Journal of Research and Practice, 39(6), 584-587

Scott, N. & Zeiger, S. (2000). ‘Should convicted felons be denied admission to a social work education program? No!, Journal of Social Work Education. 36(3), 401-413.

Stevens, D. J., & Ward, C. S. (1997). College education and recidivism: Educating criminal is meritorious. Journal Of Correctional Education, 48(3), 106-111.

Strauss, A., & Corbin, J. (1990). Basics of qualitative research: Grounded theory procedures and techniques (2nd ed.) Newbury Park, CA: Sage.

Topuzova, L. (2006). Community colleges and preparation of the human service workforce. Council on Social Work Education Retrieved from http://www.cswe.org/CentersInitiatives/DataStatistics/ProgramData/58123.aspx#chapter58135Wheeler, D. P., & Patterson, G. (2008). Prisoner reentry. Health and Social Work, 33(2), 145-147.

Downloads

Published

2017-05-31

Issue

Section

Articles