Applying Social Policy to Criminal Justice Practice
What Every Practitioner Should Know
By Clive Sealey
Published
Sep 12, 2023Page count
202 pagesISBN
978-1447324058Dimensions
244 x 170 mmImprint
Policy PressPublished
Sep 12, 2023Page count
202 pagesISBN
978-1447324065Imprint
Policy PressPublished
Sep 12, 2023Page count
202 pagesISBN
978-1447324065Imprint
Policy Press
Applying Social Policy to Criminal Justice Practice
This book aims to make clear the interconnections between social policy and criminal justice practice, bringing together key social policy concepts within a framework for reducing reoffending rates. The book focuses on the key social policy issues of employment, health and mental health, low income and poverty, housing and family. It shows how understanding and treating these as issues interconnected to criminal justice outcomes can and does lead to improvements in criminal justice practice.
This book enables students and criminal justice practitioners to understand how a social policy focus can better inform practice with those involved in the criminal justice system. It features:
• a 10 point summary of key points for learning;
• chapter heading questions to support independent learning;
• tables and graphs to illustrate the text.
“This highly readable book re-establishes many of the important connections between social policy and criminal justice practice; pointing out how effective social policies both prevent crime and promote desistance far more effectively than crime control strategies alone. Sealey’s concluding ‘ten lessons’ remind us all what we should know, but often overlook.” Peter Squires, University of Brighton
“A beautifully written, accessible book that puts social policy at the heart of criminal justice and tells us how, working in ten key ways, we can create necessary changes to improve criminal justice practice. An essential text for all criminology and social policy students, researchers and practitioners!” Maggie O’Neill, University College Cork
Clive Sealey is Senior Lecturer of Social Policy and Theory at the University of Worcester. He is also author of Social Policy Simplified: Connecting Social Policy to Real Life, and joint editor of Social Policy, Service Users and Carers: Lived Experiences and Perspectives.
1. Introduction
Part I: Understanding the interconnection between social policy
and criminal justice practice
2. What is social policy, and why is it relevant to you?
3. What is criminal justice practice, and what is the rationale for working to improve it?
4. What is the interconnection between social policy and criminal justice practice?
Part II: The importance of social policies to criminal justice practice
5. Housing, criminal justice practice and social policy
6. Employment, criminal justice practice and social policy
7. Physical health/mental health, criminal justice practice and social policy
8. Substance abuse, criminal justice practice and social policy
9. Low income and poverty, criminal justice practice and social policy
10. Children and families, criminal justice practice and social policy
11. Ten ways in which a social policy focus can improve criminal justice practice
