Case Management Comparison Paper

Question

Write a paper in which you identify and describe the differences of case management in the criminal justice system within the community and in a correctional setting.Include the following in your paper:
?Differences between community setting and correctional setting case management
?How the process will need to be altered for various special populations
?Potential clients in need of case management at both settings
?Why ethics and confidentiality play an integral role when working with clients.

Sample paper

Case Management Comparison Paper

Worldwide jurisdictions are utilizing different case management strategies in order to suit the wide range of requirements of the criminal justice system. case management is mainly used reduce recidivism as well as  address issues such as drug and substance abuse, mental disorders, developmental disabilities, joblessness and domestic violence among juveniles and adults who are arrested, on probation or on parole. Various agencies apply the diversity of case management strategies and programs to ensure that their clients reform and become productive and independent after their time in the system. The best way to achieve good results is to use a holistic approach that will address the issues in the life of offenders that could easily lead them to offending. The models used in both correctional and community settings are based on strength and assertiveness. Case management based on strength assesses the strengths of a client and builds on the client’s talents as the service plan and treatment goes on. The assertive case management involves aggressive service delivery. In this case, focuses on all areas by offering counseling services in job places, family and or community levels.

Differences between community setting and correctional setting case management

Community case management is an indispensable service that encourages individuals to be responsible on the broader management of offenders. This is particularly effective on offenders who are on probation. The collaboration of external partners is what makes these programs possible with a mission of enhancing public safety by managing offenders in the community effectively (GM & RD, 1996).

In contrast, the primary goal of offering case management services in the correctional setting is enhancing public safety by implementing programs that focus on reducing recidivism. The difference between a community’s settings is the fact that the offenders receiving the services are in a secured facility. Correctional facilities are either maximum or minimum security. The case managers should match the available services with the needs of the client. Some clients are aggressive, hostile, angry, and uncommunicative. Case managers assess a client’s risk and whether they need services such as anger management, mental health treatment, or substance abuse treatment.  Risk assessments and evaluation determines whether a case manager finds an offender eligible for parole.  It is easier to manage offenders in the correctional setting than community setting. This is because the clients are confirmed and their treatment strategies may range from strict and assertive to moderate depending on their needs and the progress they are making.

Altering for special populations

Case management processes should be altered in order to cater for various special populations. For populations such as disabled, mentally ill, HIV positive, homeless clients or those with chronic illnesses, case managers should understand their needs and offer personalized services that are suitable and effective. There are issues that can weigh heavily in special populations than the general population.  In an ideal world, case managers should have the knowledge to address all these problems and needs. However, it can be quite challenging to understand the ramifications of even a single issue. For example, when dealing with a client who has HIV/AIDS, a case manager should be conversant with the clinical progression of the disease, any advancement in treatment regimes, epidemiology, financial and legal issues, transmission routes, the available social services and the psychological services needed by the client. Considering that there are other clients with special needs, it is obvious that one cannot be an expert in all these areas. When such comprehensive knowledge is not available, there are several general skills and attitudes that can be a foundation for delivering professional services to the special needs population (Falik M et al., 1993).

An alternative is hiring enough experts that are qualified to deal with a certain group of special populations.  This will ensure that the quality of services provided is not questionable. Research and data analysis within the case management system should be conducted to ensure that issues of common interests are understood. This will give case managers a clear understanding of the clients in order to efficiently manage the case process professional development should be encouraged in order to create a sense of responsibility and accountability in the system. In addition, the capacity of case managers to share the best practices should be strengthened. Shared initiatives should be encouraged in order to improve the efficiency and effectiveness in dealing with issues of certain groups.  Working with groups ensures that communications are improved, and fostering responsibility and a sense of ownership is achieved.  Building relationships across all the sectors in the system will improve how the services are delivered.  This will ensure that there is fairness and all special needs groups are attended to.

Potential Clients

There are many potential clients both in the community and correctional settings.  They include juvenile delinquents, offenders with impulse control disorders, mentally ill offenders, those with personality control disorders and substance abuse offenders. There is a major focus on mentally ill offenders in both cases. When dealing with the mentally ill, trained personnel are the most recommended since they can effectively apply traditional methods of managing mental illness. Project action which is treatment programs that targets the mentally ill offenders boosts at least 5 percent of both adult and juvenile offenders and also referrals from correctional and pretrial settings.  Case managers in the communities offer their services to mentally ill offenders and drug users who commit nonviolent crimes. In addition, those with psychological conditions can also take part in the mental sickness programs. Offenders who are released from correctional settings and require further monitoring are referred to communities’ case management facilities. In the community setting, counseling is offered to clients, their family members and other members of the community are available to anyone in need. The similarity that community and correctional case management facilities have is that the intensity of their services depends on the needs of the client.

Importance of ethics and confidentiality

Ethics and confidentiality play a vital role when working with any client. Regardless of theoretical framework, there are many ethical dilemmas that arise during case management on a daily basis.  The ethical dilemmas present themselves when the case managers are in the process of performing their duties and fulfilling their obligations. Ethical issues have long lasting and far reaching effects on the welfare of the clients. Thus it is a requirement for case managers to maintain confidentiality and act ethically while engaging with clients and the community at large (Cmbodyofknowledge.com, 2017).

The prescribed behavior and the standards expected of human service workers should be portrayed by case managers.  Identification of ethical questions that can arise during case management should be done to ensure that there are no mishaps. This also ensures that confidential information about a client’s is protected and it does not in any way hurt the client in future. When case managers uphold confidentiality and observe ethical standards, clients’ recovery quickly without the fear of being exposed. The efficiency and effectiveness of case management in community and correctional setting relies heavily on confidentiality and ethics.

References

Cmbodyofknowledge.com,. (2017). Case Management Knowledge | CCMC’s Case Management Body of Knowledge (CMBOK). Cmbodyofknowledge.com. Retrieved 2 March 2017, from https://www.cmbodyofknowledge.com/content/case-management-knowledge-2

Falik M, Lipson D, Lewis Idema D, Ulmer C, Kaplan K, & Robinson G, et al. (1993). Case management for special populations. Moving beyond categorical distinctions. – PubMed – NCBI. Ncbi.nlm.nih.gov. Retrieved 2 March 2017, from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/8130742

GM, D. & RD, M. (1996). Case management in the community setting. – PubMed – NCBI. Ncbi.nlm.nih.gov. Retrieved 2 March 2017, from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/8751786