Forensic Social Work in the Slovak Republic

Abstract

The paper identifies the basic areas of forensic social work in the Slovak Republic. It defines the theoretical basis of forensic social work, its synonymous alternatives, and it describes actual performance in the social work practice. The aim of the paper is to report on the implemented research using an integrated research strategy in social and legal protection of children and social curatorship in the Slovak Republic. The research has identified this area as one of the most demanding in the Slovak environment through evaluating the social interventions used by forensic social workers in the forensic practice. The qualitative research focused on the identifying of other problem areas that actually happen in practice and on discovering a forensic social worker’s possibilities and needs in Slovak social work. The results of the research indicated highly rated effectiveness of social interventions in the studied area, as well as an in-depth insight into the changes proposed by social workers.