http://holisticadvocacy.com Linking social work and criminal defense Thu, 19 Feb 2009 22:14:58 +0000 http://backend.userland.com/rss092 en I would argue that all crimes committed- however harmful, illogical, misguided, or seemingly senseless-  were intended by the people who committed them to serve some kind of good in their lives.  The factors and variables that contribute to criminal behavior in any given individual are convoluted to say the least.  Law ... http://holisticadvocacy.com/?p=39 Like the father of a newborn, I spent the weekend thinking about my hopes and dreams for this blog.  Then, I went into social worker mode.  Something I always say to my clients rung out, "You gotta have a plan.  Drive a stake in the ground ahead of you and ... http://holisticadvocacy.com/?p=34 When I was in grad school, a professor (Dr. Streeter to be exact) said something to our class that has resonated with me ever since.  He said, "There's an Iron Rule in Social Work.  It's iron because it's not flexible or bendable.  You should never work harder than your client.  ... http://holisticadvocacy.com/?p=31 The Problem, As We See It: Fear as the Main Motivator Texas' justice system is driven by fear: "Don’t screw up, or you'll be arrested." "Obey the Court's orders or your probation will be revoked." "Don't reoffend because the punishment will be worse next time." But fear does not motivate. The increasing ... http://holisticadvocacy.com/?p=3