Eclecticism in social intervention with adolescents in conflict with the law

Abstract

Social Work, as a scientific discipline, has equipped itself with conceptual frameworks that legitimize and guarantee its professional practice. Throughout its history, Social Work has been developing diverse theoretical models in order to tackle, effectively, the diversity of problems and social needs that compose its scope of practice. This paper analyzes those conceptual models whose application could be particularly fruitful in dealing with adolescents in conflict with the law. Consequently, this work will describe and contrast the main models, encompassing the heterogeneity of approaches and theoretical contributions on which they are based and specifying their major contributions to the work with this segment of the population. Finally, as conclusion, drawing on the foregoing analysis, this paper proposes a set of guiding principles for our professional activity, providing significant elements of analysis and appraisal for social work practice in this particular area.