English Title

Abstract

Social services in prison settings are limited by the philosophy of control and punishment that exists in many of these institutions. This represents a challenge to the practice of social work based on the valué of social justice and the valued principal of dignity of all human beings. This paper discusses the conflicting perceptions about women in prison, and the implications for the social work practice. The work presented is the result of a program evaluation study on social services offered in the correctional institution for women in Vega Alta, Puerto Rico. The work also discusses the perception of participants in the study, of their professional role in the institution, as well as the working conditions which limits their practice.