The possibilities and dissonances of abolitionist social work

INTRODUCTION: The normative ideal of justice in Aotearoa New Zealand is dominated by the twin pillars of colonialism and carceralism. The expansion and entrenchment of this colonial carceral paradigm is facilitated by auxiliary and complicit social systems. How can social work respond to its position as an element of these systems? APPROACH: This article uses the three-stage framework of Emancipatory Social Science to examine the harms of carceralism and carceral social work, to offer abolitionist social work as an alternative, and to begin an exploration of the possibilities and dissonances presented by this alternative. CONCLUSIONS: Like carceralism, carceral social work is inherently harmful. However, the alternative praxis of abolitionist social work raises questions for our profession regarding the balancing of immediate relief and wider social change, the potential abolition of many currently accepted forms of social work, and the strengthening or building of non-carceral social works.