CORRECTIONAL OFFICER - STAFF-INMATE RELATIONS, PART 2

• NCJ Number: 59076
• Author(s): J SKIDMORE
• Date Published: 1978
• Length: 0 pages
• Sale Source: AIMS; Not Available Through National Institute of Justice/NCJRS Document Loan Program
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: *This document is currently unavailable from NCJRS. 12 MINUTES, 30 SECONDS, 16MM COLOR, 1978 RENTAL ALSO AVAILABLE

Annotation

ATTITUDES OF CORRECTIONAL OFFICERS TOWARD INMATES ARE PROBED IN THIS FILM, WHICH DEPICTS A WIDE VARIETY OF INMATE-STAFF INTERACTIONS.

Abstract

SINCE INJUSTICE TOWARDS INMATES REDUCES MORALE AND INMATE COOPERATION AND JEOPARDIZES PRISON SECURITY, CORRECTIONAL OFFICERS SHOULD DETERMINE THEIR REAL FEELINGS TOWARDS INMATES. OFFICERS SHOULD BE FIRM BUT FAIR, OBJECTIVE, AND CONSISTENT IN THEIR ATTITUDES BEHAVIOR. THEY SHOULD BE AWARE OF THEIR FEAR OF CERTAIN INMATES, THEIR ATTITUDES TOWARD RACIAL MINORITIES, AND ANY CHANGES IN THEIR BEHAVIOR ONCE OUTSIDE THE INSTITUTION OR WHEN IN THE COMPANY OF OTHER STAFF MEMBERS. IN ADDITION, CORRECTIONAL OFFICERS SHOULD UNDERSTAND THAT SHARING PERSONAL INFORMATION WITH INMATES MAY CAUSE THE INMATES TO MANIPULATE THE OFFICERS. OVERFAMILIARITY IS MISPLACED IN A CORRECTIONAL SETTING BUT DIFFICULT TO AVOID. CORRECTIONAL OFFICERS SHOULD LEARN TO ACCEPT OR DENY INMATE REQUESTS REGARDLESS OF THEIR PERSONAL FRIENDSHIPS. ASSISTANCE TO INMATES IN HELPING THEM MAKE THEIR OWN DECISIONS IS UNHEALTHY ONLY IF TOO MUCH TIME IS SPENT WITH THE INMATES.