Documentary Review Assignment: The Kalief Browder Story
Guidelines and Prompt
This semester we will be watching the Netflix docuseries, “The Kalief Browder Story,” in class, however,
if you miss a class you will be required to watch it on your own time (links to the episodes will be
provided in Canvas). This assignment will require a combination of research of the NY Department of
Corrections, examination of all other people involved in Kalief Browder’s, reflections, class lectures, and
small group discussions.
Your Assignment Must Consist of the Following Sections:
1. Cover Page
2. Agency Introduction
a. What is the NY Department of Correction’s mission statement? You will find a lot of
information using the following link: https://www1.nyc.gov/site/doc/index.page
b. Describe the target population of Rikers Island inmate population in detail, including
pertinent information related to age, gender, socio-economic status, race, culture,
ethnicity, etc.
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c. It is apparent that Rikers Island as an institution does not respect self-determination.
Research and provide 2 organizations that exist to improve inmate conditions and
treatment at Rikers Island, or jail/prison inmates in general. In 1-page minimum, provide
both organizations:
i. Name
ii. Location
iii. Mission and Vision statements
iv. Explanation of the services/efforts towards improving inmate treatment.
3. Social Work Theories and Approach – Choose one of the following social work theories or
approaches and apply them to the work being done at the NY Department of Corrections Rikers
Island.
a. The Strengths Perspective, Ecological Systems Theory, Systems Theory,
Person-in-Environment
i. Name and define the theory/approach you chose
ii. Using The Kalief Browder Stoy, how could the use of the theory/approach you
chose to improve the effectiveness of rehabilitation at Rikers Island? Be specific
and provide examples.
4. Social Work Interventions – Choose one of the following social work interventions: Individual
Casework, Case Management, Individual or family counseling, Group work, Client
advocacy, or Community organizing (to include outreach work and attempts to change
social policy or legislation)
a. Define the social work intervention you chose
b. Give an example of how the intervention was used, or how it could have been used to
better assist Kalief Browder after he was released from Rikers Island.
5. Ethics- Which NASW code of ethics did authorities who interacted with Gabriel Fernandez
violate?
1. Name and define the code of ethics you chose – Go to this website, scroll
down, and select one from the 6 Code of Ethics categories.
2. State who you think violated the code of ethics you chose.
3. Give an example from the docuseries of how it was violated by the
authority figure you chose.
6. Reflections
a. If your supervisor instructed you to do something against your code of ethics, how would
you respond and what actions would you take?
a. If you were assigned Kalief Browder to your caseload when he was released from prison,
what would you do to support his reintegration into society?
b. What areas of Kalief’s life would you make sure were being addressed and why?
7. Assessment – What did you learn about yourself from watching the docuseries you chose? Start
this paragraph with: “After completing this assignment I realized (feelings, thoughts,
experiences)… Did anything show up for you personally or what about this case was challenging?
What did you learn about yourself?
8. References Page
You are expected to use a minimum of 3 quotations/citations from the Netflix Docuseries “The Kalief
Browder Story, “course/outline, to define and support the use of social work theories, approaches, values,
and practice methods in this assignment
