Abstract

This study conducts a systematic literature review on the concept of rootedness (social rootedness) within the context of Forensic Social Work and its application in the Chilean criminal justice system, particularly following the increased relevance of Social Expert Reports since the criminal procedural reform. A total of 30 scientific and legal studies were reviewed, selected through explicit inclusion and exclusion criteria, and retrieved from indexed databases. The analysis identified dominant forms of rootedness (family, employment, and social) and complementary forms (residential, territorial, migratory, religious, addiction-related, and criminal), revealing a lack of integrated and unified theoretical development. As a contribution, the Ecological Model for Comprehensive Evaluation of rootedness is proposed, grounded in the ecological approach to human development. This model incorporates multiple dimensions of rootedness based on relational systems, providing a coherent framework for Social Work. The study also addresses variables associated with rootedness and related concepts, contributing to its rigorous assessment in judicial contexts.