In the ever-evolving landscape of law enforcement/community relations, the integration of social workers into law enforcement operations has emerged as one approach for addressing complex societal issues with empathy, compassion, and a focus on community well-being. The role of law enforcement in our society has expanded greatly beyond our core functions of patrol operations and criminal investigations. Today, our officers’ calls for service consist of a myriad of non-criminal “investigations” and other community welfare situations. To address these ever-expanding responsibilities, while adhering to our core functions and upholding our duty of care to our communities, some agencies have implemented social workers in various capacities, into their operations. This presentation will examine the various administrative structures for implementing social workers into your law enforcement operations including challenges presented by each administrative model.
