Ppt chapter 9

Chapter 9Chapter 9

The Staff World:The Staff World:

Managing the Prison PopulationManaging the Prison Population

McGraw-Hill/Irwin © 2013 McGraw-Hill Companies. All Rights Reserved.

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StaffStaff

Roles - The normal patterns of behavior expected of those holding particular social positions.

Staff Roles - The patterns of behavior expected of correctional staff members in particular jobs.

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Four Main Goals of Four Main Goals of Correctional Staff MembersCorrectional Staff Members

1. Provide for the security of the community2. Promote the smooth and effective

functioning of the institution3. Ensure that incarceration is secure, but

humane4. Give inmates the opportunity to develop

a positive lifestyle while incarcerated and gain the personal and employment skills they need for a positive lifestyle after release.

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Staff HierarchyStaff Hierarchy

Administrative staff Clerical personnel Program staff

Concerned with encouraging prisoners to participate in educational, vocational, and treatment programs

Custodial staff Most directly involved in managing the inmate

population Service and maintenance staff Volunteers

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Bases of Power Bases of Power Legitimate Power: derived from the

correction officers’ (CO) positions in the organization

Coercive Power: based on the inmates’ belief that COs can and will punish disobedience

Reward Power: the COs’ ability to dispense both formal and informal rewards Gain time – Time taken off an inmate’s

sentence for participating in certain activities

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Bases of Power Bases of Power

Expert Power: based on inmates’ perception that certain COs have valuable skills

Referent Power: based on the inmates’ respect for a particular fair and non-abusive CO

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The Staff SubcultureThe Staff Subculture

Structured conflict - The tensions between prison staff members and inmates that arise out of the correctional setting

Subculture - The beliefs, values, behavior, and material objects shared by a particular group of people within a larger society

Staff subculture - The beliefs, values, and behavior of staff; they differ greatly from those of the inmate subculture

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The “Officer Code” The “Officer Code” Always go to the aid of an officer in distress Do not “lug” (bring in) drugs for inmate use Do not rat on other officers Never make a fellow officer look bad in front of

inmates Always support an officer in a dispute with an

inmate Always support officer sanctions against inmates Do not be a “white hat” or a “Goody Two-Shoes” Maintain officer solidarity in dealings with all

outside groups Show positive concern for fellow officers

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Correctional Officer PersonalitiesCorrectional Officer Personalities

The Dictator: Enjoys giving orders and the feeling of power derived from doing so

The Friend: Tries to befriend inmates, who, in turn, try to gain special treatment

The Merchant: Provides commodities to inmates, often in violation of institutional rules

The Turnkey: Unmotivated and bored, does little beyond the basic job requirements

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Correctional Officer Personalities - Correctional Officer Personalities - ContinuedContinued

The Climber: Usually a diligent worker who respects the corrections profession and is focused on rapid professional advancement

The Reformer: The know-it-all who constantly complains and endlessly criticizes institutional policies, procedures, and rules

The Do-Gooder: Another type of reformer, but one who is motivated by a personal agenda such as religious proselytizing

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Job Assignments Job Assignments

Block Officers - supervise inmates in housing areas

Work Detail Supervisors - oversee the work of individual inmates and inmate work crews

Industrial Shop and School Officers - ensure efficient use of training and educational resources within the prison

Yard Officers - supervise inmates in the prison yard

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Job Assignments - Job Assignments - ContinuedContinued

Administrative Officers - control keys and weapons and sometimes oversee visitation

Perimeter Security Officers - fill security (gun) tower, wall, and perimeter patrol posts to prevent escapes and intrusions

Relief Officers - temporarily replace absent officers or filling staffing vacancies These are experienced COs who know and can

perform any custody role in the institution

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Female OfficersFemale Officers Face special problems in male-dominated

profession Typically perform with a less aggressive style than

men Rely more on established disciplinary rules Another issue concerning women in today’s

workplace is personal and sexual harassment. Studies show that few female correctional officers personally experience unwanted touching or other forms of sexual harassment. The forms of harassment women most commonly experience are physical (nonsexual) assaults, threats, unfounded graphic sexual rumors about them, and demeaning remarks from peers, inmates, and supervisors.

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Female Officers Female Officers - Continued- Continued

Take job due to interest in human service work and rehabilitation

Less likely to be assaulted than male officers

Most male officers are supportive of female officers

Sexual harassment not always taken seriously

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StressStress

Tension in a person’s body or mind, resulting from physical, chemical, or emotional factors

Factors that create stress: Feelings of powerlessness Feelings of meaninglessness Social isolation Self-estrangement

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Stress ContinuedStress Continued

Correctional officers frequently deny Correctional officers frequently deny that they are under stress, fearing that they are under stress, fearing that admitting to feelings of stress that admitting to feelings of stress might be interpreted unfavorably.might be interpreted unfavorably.

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Staff Safety Staff Safety

Safety is a major stressor for COs and a primary management concern for correctional administrators

Comprehensive planning and effective training are essential

Safety concerns permeate every task, especially the ordinary or routine

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Job SatisfactionJob Satisfaction

High levels of stress reduce the satisfaction correctional officers get from their jobs.

Correctional officers often feel alienated from policymaking. This reduces satisfaction with the job.

Officers who feel that they have some control over the institution and over their jobs seem much more satisfied than officers who believe they have no control.

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ProfessionalismProfessionalism

Training Supervisory role models Leadership Correctional Officer’s Creed

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The Impact of Terrorism on The Impact of Terrorism on CorrectionsCorrections

Threats in the communities and institutions from both outsiders and inmates

“Prison Islam” Bioterrorism Those convicted of terrorism present

new challenges for administrators

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TerrorismTerrorism

The FBI says that al-Qaeda continues The FBI says that al-Qaeda continues to actively recruit followers inside to actively recruit followers inside American correctional institutions. American correctional institutions. Islamic terrorists are keenly aware of Islamic terrorists are keenly aware of the 9,600 Muslims held in the federal the 9,600 Muslims held in the federal prison system and see them as prison system and see them as potential converts.potential converts.

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Kevin JamesKevin James Sentenced in federal court in Santa Ana, California, Sentenced in federal court in Santa Ana, California,

to 16 years in prison. James had pleaded guilty in to 16 years in prison. James had pleaded guilty in 2007 to conspiracy to wage war against the United 2007 to conspiracy to wage war against the United States 56 and had been accused of plotting States 56 and had been accused of plotting terrorist attacks on Jewish and military targets terrorist attacks on Jewish and military targets throughout California. Among those targets were throughout California. Among those targets were Los Angeles International Airport, the Israeli Los Angeles International Airport, the Israeli Consulate, and Army recruiting centers. Those who Consulate, and Army recruiting centers. Those who investigated James’s background found that he had investigated James’s background found that he had formed an Islamic terrorist group in California’s formed an Islamic terrorist group in California’s Tehachapi Prison in 1997. While serving a 10-year Tehachapi Prison in 1997. While serving a 10-year sentence for robbery, James joined the Nation of sentence for robbery, James joined the Nation of Islam— a traditional American Islamic faith. Soon, Islam— a traditional American Islamic faith. Soon, however, he became engaged terrorist activates.however, he became engaged terrorist activates.