This paper tries to explore the differences between social work and correctional services from the aspects of professional boundaries, concept, content, construct, context, approach, function, professional identity and relationship with service users. Through these, social workers will be informed what are the limitations of their service in a correctional environment, whilst for correctional officers, a better understanding of the philosophical stance of social services which may be helpful for them in discharging their dual role of law enforcer and social worker under the contemporary correctional policy stressing rehabilitation and reintegration of offenders.

本文嘗試從專業規限，概念，內容，構建，環境，面向，功能，專業身份及與服務使用者的關係各方面探討社會工作和懲教服務不同之處。社會工作者將會了解他們的服務在懲教環境下的限制;而對懲教人員來說，在強調在囚人士更生及重投社會的現行懲教政策下，他們可更了解社會工作的哲學觀點，有助他們履行其執法者和社會工作者的雙重角色。

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