Forensic Social Work: Supporting Desistance

Providing an overview of the knowledge and methods required by professionals working in a mandated setting with adults who have committed offences, Forensic Social Work presents evidence-based knowledge in an accessible way that can be directly translated to application in daily practice.

Covering a wide range of topics, Part 1 of the book includes foundational theories that provide a solid basis for the development of practice-based methods and forensic social professionalism, the development of offending behaviour, desistance, professional reflection and resilience of professionals. Part 2 develops and organises the forensic social supervision process and deals with planning, assessment of risk and protective factors, cooperation with other professionals, volunteers, experts by experience and the social network. Part 3 contains essential practices for forensic social professionals, including the dynamics of involuntary interaction, the working alliance, motivating, strength-based and restorative practices and de-escalation strategies. Finally, Part 4 deals with unique client needs, such as debt, trauma, mild intellectual disability, substance use and mental disorders. There is also a focus on digital crimes and the online ‘street identity’ that becomes intertwined with offending behaviour in young adults.

Intended for use in either practical training or theoretical study, this book will be of value to professionals such as probation workers, forensic mental health professionals and prison staff, as well as students studying or training in areas related to forensic social work.

Jacqueline Bosker is Professor within the research group Working with Mandated Clients and Lecturer in the Forensic Social Professional master’s degree programme at HU University of Applied Sciences Utrecht. She is also a member of the Conditional Release Advisory Committee and the editor of PROCES, the national journal for penal law.

Anneke Menger is Professor Emeritus of the Working with Mandated Clients Research Group at HU University of Applied Sciences Utrecht. In that role, she initiated and led the development of a practice-based research programme with and for forensic social professionals and a programme for bachelor’s and master’s degree in higher professional education.

Vivienne de Vogel is Professor of Forensic Mental Health Care at Maastricht University and within the research group Working With Mandated Clients at HU University of Applied Sciences Utrecht. She also works as a researcher at the Van der Hoeven Kliniek, a forensic psychiatric centre in Utrecht and as Scientific Advisor of the Dutch Advisory Board on Review of Leave.