Editorial

• Published date: 01 October 1959
• Date: 01 October 1959
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.1177/003288555903900202
• Subject Matter: Articles

EDITORIAL
Social casework is one of the important disciplines which has
catered the field of corrections during the past two-score years. What
its role now is and how it may function in the foreseeable future are
Vilely questions whicli this issue endeavors to answer in part.
The article by David H. Gronewold describes the particular
4PPlicability of social casework to the selection of offenders for pro-
bation and to supervision. It emphasizes that attitudes and feelings,
~ll1ch have so great a part in determining behavior, are only elicited
first-hand and through personal contact. The controlled use of the
lUter-personal relationship is the forte of the professional caseworker.
Louis M. Partnow discusses a treatment program for the untried
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prISoner as diiferentiated from treatment for the convicted and sen-
teuced person. He sees the individual casework relationship at the
root of all program: helping the individual prisoner make constructive
Of
all program aspects, and providing a source of understanding
human need so that administration can be modified when necessary
to make treatment more effective.
Joseph R. Silver raises the question as to whether social casework
can make a contribution to the solving of the problems of persons in
jail. Speaking from experience, he reports that from a third to a half
ask for service and a high proportion make effective use of it.
Treatment, including casework, as a partial solution to prison
overcrowding, is suggested by William G. Nagel in a bold plan by
Which a present and much greater anticipated problem can be met.
pensive treatment is seen as a partial solution to the exploding
Prison population problem. Staff requirements and costs of such a
Plan are outlined.
Walter Isenherg, in his article on parole, stresses that the primary
Purpose of parole is to help the parolee take another step toward the
ultimate goal of independent adjustment to society, free of all artificial
CO’Itrols. He points out that...