Social work in confinement: the spatiality of social work in carceral settings

<p>Social work in prisons not only works with and for people who are confined; it also constitutes a form of social work that is carried out under conditions of confinement. This article draws on carceral geography to understand the corporeal and spatial aspects of social work in prison settin...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: M. Richter, J. Emprechtinger
Format: Article
Language:deu
Published: Copernicus Publications 2021-03-01
Series:Geographica Helvetica
Online Access:https://gh.copernicus.org/articles/76/65/2021/gh-76-65-2021.pdf
_version_ 1819163543658823680
author M. Richter
J. Emprechtinger
author_facet M. Richter
J. Emprechtinger
author_sort M. Richter
collection DOAJ
description <p>Social work in prisons not only works with and for people who are confined; it also constitutes a form of social work that is carried out under conditions of confinement. This article draws on carceral geography to understand the corporeal and spatial aspects of social work in prison settings. Based on insights from two prisons in Switzerland, we argue that understanding carceral social work as a spatial and materially situated practice helps to gain deep insight into the intricate layers of meaning and powerful modes of functioning of prisons and of the people involved. In particular, it shows how the way social work is carried out in prison is supported and strongly structured by the spatiality of the prison itself, allowing for counselling, desk-type social work, rather than for social work that actively initiates and creates spaces for encounters or activities.</p>
first_indexed 2024-12-22T17:45:48Z
format Article
id doaj.art-78a83e696da44d03987f0589388a4d24
institution Directory Open Access Journal
issn 0016-7312
2194-8798
language deu
last_indexed 2024-12-22T17:45:48Z
publishDate 2021-03-01
publisher Copernicus Publications
record_format Article
series Geographica Helvetica
spelling doaj.art-78a83e696da44d03987f0589388a4d242022-12-21T18:18:18ZdeuCopernicus PublicationsGeographica Helvetica0016-73122194-87982021-03-0176657310.5194/gh-76-65-2021Social work in confinement: the spatiality of social work in carceral settingsM. RichterJ. Emprechtinger<p>Social work in prisons not only works with and for people who are confined; it also constitutes a form of social work that is carried out under conditions of confinement. This article draws on carceral geography to understand the corporeal and spatial aspects of social work in prison settings. Based on insights from two prisons in Switzerland, we argue that understanding carceral social work as a spatial and materially situated practice helps to gain deep insight into the intricate layers of meaning and powerful modes of functioning of prisons and of the people involved. In particular, it shows how the way social work is carried out in prison is supported and strongly structured by the spatiality of the prison itself, allowing for counselling, desk-type social work, rather than for social work that actively initiates and creates spaces for encounters or activities.</p>https://gh.copernicus.org/articles/76/65/2021/gh-76-65-2021.pdf
spellingShingle M. Richter
J. Emprechtinger
Social work in confinement: the spatiality of social work in carceral settings
Geographica Helvetica
title Social work in confinement: the spatiality of social work in carceral settings
title_full Social work in confinement: the spatiality of social work in carceral settings
title_fullStr Social work in confinement: the spatiality of social work in carceral settings
title_full_unstemmed Social work in confinement: the spatiality of social work in carceral settings
title_short Social work in confinement: the spatiality of social work in carceral settings
title_sort social work in confinement the spatiality of social work in carceral settings
url https://gh.copernicus.org/articles/76/65/2021/gh-76-65-2021.pdf
work_keys_str_mv AT mrichter socialworkinconfinementthespatialityofsocialworkincarceralsettings
AT jemprechtinger socialworkinconfinementthespatialityofsocialworkincarceralsettings