NCJ Number
57408
Date Published
1978
Length
10 pages
Annotation
CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTIONS MUST BE CHANGED BEFORE CORRECTIONAL OFFICERS CAN BE FREE OF THE CONTRADICTIONS THAT RESULT FROM TRYING TO COMBINE REHABILITATION WITH PUNISHMENT.
Abstract
CRITICS OF CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTIONS HAVE FAILED TO RECOGNIZE THAT PRISON GUARDS ARE AS MUCH A PRODUCT OF THE ENVIRONMENT OF CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTIONS AS ARE INMATES. AS A SOCIAL SYSTEM, THE CUSTODIAL PRISON PRESENTS RELATIVELY FIXED WAYS FOR STAFF MEMBERS AND INMATES TO RELATE TO ONE ANOTHER. EVEN THOUGH CORRECTIONAL OFFICERS HAVE THE LOWEST STATUS POSITION AMONG THE STAFF, THEY HAVE THE MOST DIRECT CONTACT WITH THE PRISONERS. HOWEVER, THEIR INTERACTION WITH THE INMATES IS GOVERNED BY THE OFTEN CONFLICTING INSTRUCTIONS THEY RECEIVE FROM HIGHER PLACED OFFICIALS IN THE SYSTEM. TO A LARGE EXTENT, THE CONFUSION RESULTS FROM THE FACT THAT GUARDS ARE INSTRUCTED TO SOMEHOW SIMULTANEOUSLY CARRY OUT STRICT SURVEILLANCE OF INMATES WHILE MOTIVATING INMATES TO REFORM. THE SURVEILLANCE OF INMATES IS AIMED AT SUPPRESSING VIOLATIONS OF PRISON RULES; YET, OFFICERS ARE GIVEN LITTLE CLEAR DIRECTION IN ENFORCING THESE RULES. RECENTLY, THERE HAS BEEN A MOVEMENT TOWARDS SHIFTING AWAY FROM THE TERM 'PRISON GUARD' TO 'CORRECTIONAL OFFICER.' IF THIS IS TO BE MORE THAN JUST A COSMETIC CHANGE, THEN CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTIONS MUST MOVE AWAY FROM AN EXCLUSIVE PREOCCUPATION WITH CONTAINMENT OF INMATES TO AN ORIENTATION WHICH STRESSES MOVING INMATES TOWARD ACCEPTANCE OF THEMSELVES AS LAW-ABIDING CITIZENS. REFERENCE ARE PROVIDED.