A duoethnographic exploration of criminal in/justice, social work, and activism

This duoethnography examines the relationship between social work and criminality, critiquing the uncritical acceptance of the criminal legal system that fosters exclusion and stifles radical activism and challenges to authority. Duoethnography allows researchers to explore shared meaning between two or more people, inviting readers to engage with the journey. Using our experiences as a starting point, we examine social work attitudes towards the criminal legal system, identifying three key themes. These themes include the use of criminal convictions to assess suitability for the profession, social work’s complicity within oppressive structures, and the role of regulation in disciplining social workers. We argue that while social work claims a commitment to social justice, it simultaneously erects barriers to exclude those engaged in such work. We suggest that social work adopt a critical stance towards the law and empower practitioners to take a stand in both practice and broader political struggles.