Worldwide, social workers have many functions and roles to play in the areas of crime and criminal justice, and they work with service users at both sides of criminal justice: crime perpetrators, crime victims and, very often, vulnerable people who are part of the two groups.

This handbook provides both a critical exploration of the roots and theoretical foundations of Criminal Justice Social Work as well as cutting-edge research and practice in the field, from a global and inclusive viewpoint.

This book is divided into six parts:

• Theoretical Approaches and Critical Perspectives on Criminal Justice Social Work
• Social Work in the Prison System
• Children, Youth and Criminal Justice Social Work
• Social Work, Health and Justice
• Social Exclusion and Vulnerabilities in the Criminal Justice System
• Police Social Work, Social Work in Courts and Criminal Justice Social Work with Communities

It moves away from purely legalistic approaches and regulation constraints which often leave social workers and researchers in this field feeling unheard and powerless in the face of oppressive procedures and regulations in opposition to service users' human rights and social justice-oriented change, in line with the profession's global codes of ethics.

The diverse and international knowledge generated by this handbook will become a key global resource for teaching and learning about the foundations and diverse understandings, practices and regulations regarding social work in the areas of crime and criminal justice and for enhancing social work's contributions and influence on these.