Forensic Social Worker Jobs
Forensic Social Worker jobs are open across criminal justice, child welfare, healthcare, and government agencies, from entry-level case manager to senior clinical and supervisory roles, with specializations in victim advocacy, offender rehabilitation, and court liaison work. Scan the live roles below and apply to whichever ones fit.
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Description
DOES NOT APPLY TO CONTRACTORS]
The Washington State Office of Public Defense (OPD) seeks a contract social worker within the Forensic Civil Commitment Program in advocating for clients under the jurisdiction of the Department of Social and Health Services pursuant to Chapter 71.09 RCW.
OPD is an independent judicial branch agency mandated to implement the constitutional and statutory guarantees of counsel and to ensure the effective and efficient delivery of indigent defense services funded by the state. OPD’s mission is to uphold the rights of all people who are facing the loss of liberty or family by providing statewide leadership, administration, and support to the multidisciplinary public defense profession.
Vision: Public defense clients, everywhere in the state, receive truly equitable and client-centered representation from fully supported professionals.
Values: Justice * Service * Equity * Excellence
Position Overview
The Washington State Office of Public Defense (OPD) Forensic Civil Commitment Program currently provides attorney representation to indigent clients with the right to counsel at State expense against whom sexually violent predator petitions have been filed under Chapter 71.09 RCW. OPD is requesting applications for social workers to support contracted attorneys and clients, statewide.
This position will require frequent travel to the Special Commitment Center (SCC) in Pierce County and the Secure Community Transition Facilities in Pierce County and King County, as well as regular, state-wide travel to the client’s county of residence (can include all 39 counties).
Duties
contract social worker works at the direction of attorneys to provide advocacy, case management, release planning, resource coordination, mitigation, referral services, and limited crisis intervention to assigned clients. Case assignments are made for the duration of time the case is being represented by the assigned attorney.
Social workers are expected to advocate for clients currently committed to the Special Commitment Center (SCC), or who are in the community on a less restrictive alternative (LRA). Social workers must also work to develop community resources in anticipation of client’s needs upon release, to include but not limited to housing, sex offense treatment, mental health/substance use treatment, and state and federal benefits. Regular in-person meetings with clients are expected, as well as remote communication (phone calls, video visits, etc.).
Social workers must understand and adhere to requirements of confidentiality and attorney-client privilege. For purpose of interpretation of the Washington State Bar Association’s (WSBA) Rules of Professional Conduct (RPC), social workers are considered “nonlawyer assistants” and are responsible to each referring attorney under RPC 5.3.
DOES NOT APPLY TO CONTRACTORS]
Qualifications
A Master of Social Work from an accredited institution is required to be considered for this position (no substitutions).
In addition, a qualified applicant must:
- Be comfortable working with individuals with sex offense histories (preference given to candidates with demonstrated experience working with this population);
- Have experience in working with individuals considered high acuity, those with mental illness, and/or those with developmental disabilities;
- Have experience in release planning from a correctional or institutional setting;
- Have the ability to work individually and collaboratively with defense attorneys and other social workers, while maintaining an understanding of the nature of defense work that includes the need to pivot and/or be flexible;
- Possess strong communication skills with multiple stakeholders and agencies, including OPD, Attorney General’s Office/prosecutors, various state agencies, treatment providers and landlords;
- Possess experience or interest in how race, gender, national origin, disability, and class intersect to create disparities for individuals experiencing state intervention in their lives;
- Have the ability to regularly travel to meet clients both in the community and state institutions throughout Washington and to explore community resources available;
- Have the ability to transport clients during an initial release period;
- Have knowledge of community and funding resources for individuals releasing into their communities; and
- Have an awareness of governing bodies of social work as it pertains to ethics and standards of practice, including the National Association of Social Workers (NASW).
Supplemental Information
Compensation
Application Procedure
DOES NOT APPLY TO CONTRACTORS]
Description
DOES NOT APPLY TO CONTRACTORS]
The Washington State Office of Public Defense (OPD) seeks a contract social worker within the Forensic Civil Commitment Program in advocating for clients under the jurisdiction of the Department of Social and Health Services pursuant to Chapter 71.09 RCW.
OPD is an independent judicial branch agency mandated to implement the constitutional and statutory guarantees of counsel and to ensure the effective and efficient delivery of indigent defense services funded by the state. OPD’s mission is to uphold the rights of all people who are facing the loss of liberty or family by providing statewide leadership, administration, and support to the multidisciplinary public defense profession.
Vision: Public defense clients, everywhere in the state, receive truly equitable and client-centered representation from fully supported professionals.
Values: Justice * Service * Equity * Excellence
Position Overview
The Washington State Office of Public Defense (OPD) Forensic Civil Commitment Program currently provides attorney representation to indigent clients with the right to counsel at State expense against whom sexually violent predator petitions have been filed under Chapter 71.09 RCW. OPD is requesting applications for social workers to support contracted attorneys and clients, statewide.
This position will require frequent travel to the Special Commitment Center (SCC) in Pierce County and the Secure Community Transition Facilities in Pierce County and King County, as well as regular, state-wide travel to the client’s county of residence (can include all 39 counties).
Duties
contract social worker works at the direction of attorneys to provide advocacy, case management, release planning, resource coordination, mitigation, referral services, and limited crisis intervention to assigned clients. Case assignments are made for the duration of time the case is being represented by the assigned attorney.
Social workers are expected to advocate for clients currently committed to the Special Commitment Center (SCC), or who are in the community on a less restrictive alternative (LRA). Social workers must also work to develop community resources in anticipation of client’s needs upon release, to include but not limited to housing, sex offense treatment, mental health/substance use treatment, and state and federal benefits. Regular in-person meetings with clients are expected, as well as remote communication (phone calls, video visits, etc.).
Social workers must understand and adhere to requirements of confidentiality and attorney-client privilege. For purpose of interpretation of the Washington State Bar Association’s (WSBA) Rules of Professional Conduct (RPC), social workers are considered “nonlawyer assistants” and are responsible to each referring attorney under RPC 5.3.
DOES NOT APPLY TO CONTRACTORS]
Qualifications
A Master of Social Work from an accredited institution is required to be considered for this position (no substitutions).
In addition, a qualified applicant must:
- Be comfortable working with individuals with sex offense histories (preference given to candidates with demonstrated experience working with this population);
- Have experience in working with individuals considered high acuity, those with mental illness, and/or those with developmental disabilities;
- Have experience in release planning from a correctional or institutional setting;
- Have the ability to work individually and collaboratively with defense attorneys and other social workers, while maintaining an understanding of the nature of defense work that includes the need to pivot and/or be flexible;
- Possess strong communication skills with multiple stakeholders and agencies, including OPD, Attorney General’s Office/prosecutors, various state agencies, treatment providers and landlords;
- Possess experience or interest in how race, gender, national origin, disability, and class intersect to create disparities for individuals experiencing state intervention in their lives;
- Have the ability to regularly travel to meet clients both in the community and state institutions throughout Washington and to explore community resources available;
- Have the ability to transport clients during an initial release period;
- Have knowledge of community and funding resources for individuals releasing into their communities; and
- Have an awareness of governing bodies of social work as it pertains to ethics and standards of practice, including the National Association of Social Workers (NASW).
Supplemental Information
Compensation
Application Procedure
DOES NOT APPLY TO CONTRACTORS]
Forensic Social Worker Jobs by Experience Level
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Who's Hiring
Top Industries Hiring
- Healthcare & Medical Services
What Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in forensic social worker jobs.
- Master of Social Work (MSW) degree from an accredited program
- Active LCSW or LMSW licensure in the state of employment
- Experience conducting psychosocial assessments and risk evaluations
- Knowledge of criminal justice procedures and court documentation standards
- Proficiency with electronic case management and documentation systems
- Familiarity with trauma-informed care frameworks and evidence-based intervention models
Tips for Your Forensic Social Worker Job Search
Tailor your resume to court settings
Hiring managers in forensic social work scan for direct experience with legal systems, risk assessments, and court testimony. Call out any specific assessment tools you've used, such as the LSI-R or PCL-R, and name the court or agency contexts where you used them.
Get licensed before you apply
Most forensic social worker postings require an LCSW or MSW at minimum, and some court-based roles require licensure in the specific state where the position is located. Confirm your license is active and in good standing before submitting any application.
Apply early to roles that fit
Migrate Mate lists forensic social worker openings from across the United States in one place, so you can find roles that match and apply directly to each listing.
Highlight mandatory reporting experience clearly
Forensic roles in child welfare and domestic violence settings require documented knowledge of mandatory reporting laws. Specify the state context in your resume, since compliance requirements differ, and interviewers will probe this directly during screening calls.
Prepare for competency-based interview questions
Expect structured behavioral questions about de-escalation, testifying under cross-examination, and documentation under time pressure. Practice concrete examples from your fieldwork that show how you handled conflicting obligations between client welfare and legal mandates.
Negotiate continuing education support upfront
Forensic social workers must maintain licensure and often pursue certifications in trauma-informed care or substance use treatment. During the offer stage, ask explicitly whether the employer funds CEUs and professional development, since many public agencies have fixed budgets for this.
Forensic Social Worker Jobs: Frequently Asked Questions
Which companies are hiring the most forensic social workers?
The Legal Aid Society, Centurion Health, and State of Washington are hiring the most forensic social workers right now, with openings concentrated in New York, California, and Massachusetts, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of November 2026. County government agencies, hospital systems, and nonprofit legal aid organizations consistently post the highest volume of openings in this field.
How many forensic social worker jobs are remote?
About 100% of forensic social worker openings are fully remote or hybrid as of November 2026, reflecting the hands-on, court-facing nature of most roles. Policy, training, and clinical consultation positions are most likely to offer remote flexibility, while direct case management and courtroom testimony roles typically require in-person presence.
How do you become a forensic social worker?
You start by earning a Master of Social Work degree, then obtain state licensure as an LCSW or LMSW. From there, you pursue field placements or early roles in criminal justice, child protective services, or clinical settings that expose you to legal processes. Many practitioners add specialized training in forensic interviewing, risk assessment, or trauma-informed care to strengthen their candidacy for court-based positions.
Can you get hired as a forensic social worker with little experience?
Entry-level candidates can break into forensic social work by emphasizing relevant field placements from their MSW program, particularly any rotations in correctional facilities, domestic violence programs, or child welfare agencies. Volunteer work with legal aid organizations or victim services also counts. Some county agencies hire new graduates into supervised case management roles specifically designed to build forensic competency over time.
What does the forensic social worker interview process look like?
Most forensic social worker interviews include an initial phone screening focused on licensure and availability, followed by a structured panel interview with clinical supervisors and sometimes a human resources representative. Candidates are typically asked scenario-based questions about mandatory reporting, court testimony, and documentation under pressure. Some employers add a written exercise or case vignette to assess clinical reasoning and professional judgment before extending an offer.
Where can I find and apply to forensic social worker jobs?
You can find and apply to forensic social worker jobs on Migrate Mate, which lists current openings from across the United States. Search for roles that match your license level, specialization, and preferred location, then apply directly to each listing that fits your background.
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