2016 Volume 41 Pages 47-61
A purpose of this article is to discuss a range of issues related to risk and security from welfare organizations’ perspective by examining collaboration between the criminal justice and welfare systems, which has been evolving since mid 2000s. Firstly, the author describes the collaboration’s current status and its characteristics. Secondly, triggers for and purposes of the collaboration are considered from both the criminal justice and welfare sides. Thirdly, the author examines risk and security recognized by the welfare organizations. There are four risk types recognized by the welfare organizations working with the criminal justice system, namely, (1) risk associated with client’s re-offending, (2) risk associated with possible legal liability, (3) risk associated with relationship with other organizations and reputation within the community, (4) risk associated with the organization’s relationship with its clients and their families. Security, measures to deal with these risks, can over-emphasize possibility of client’s re-offending and/or exclude them from the services. It is argued that in order to establish and maintain welfare organizations’ equal and independent relationship with their counterparts, they need to recognize that security for their perceived risks can create new and further risk, viz. transforming them into de facto criminal justice agencies.
