ETHICAL AND PRACTICAL CHALLENGES OF SOCIAL WORKERS' ACTIVITY IN PENITENTIARY INSTITUTIONS

Abstract

Penitentiary reforms increasingly prioritize convict resocialization, positioning social workers as pivotal agents in this process. However, practicing within closed institutions continuously forces a clash between professional values and punitive logic.

This article discusses the key ethical and practical challenges affecting social work quality and specialists' psychosocial well-being in Armenian penitentiaries. Utilizing a qualitative methodology, the study analyzed domestic and international legislation, internal institutional regulations, and ethical guidelines, supplemented by fieldwork involving direct observations and in-depth interviews. Through observation, the internal environment of penitentiary institutions and the specific dynamics of communication between social workers and convicts were examined. The in-depth interviews brought to light the internal ethical contradictions of social workers and their subjective perceptions of practical difficulties.

The findings indicate that social work in penitentiary institutions still operates within the collision zone between "custodial" and "rehabilitative" functions, which diminishes the effectiveness of psychosocial support. Practical challenges, specifically the limitation of professional autonomy, environmental resistance, and the absence of external supervision, contribute to emotional burnout and hinder the professional self-realization of social workers. The article proposes practical mechanisms aimed at implementing external supervisory frameworks and expanding professional autonomy.