NCJ Number
55239
Date Published
1977
Length
21 pages
Annotation
THE FUNCTIONS AND PROBLEMS OF BELGIAN PRISON GUARDS ARE INVESTIGATED ON THE BASIS OF WRITTEN REGULATIONS AND GUARD MANUALS, AS WELL AS OBSERVATIONS AND INTERVIEWS AT LOUVAIN PRISON.
Abstract
SURVEILLANCE FUNCTIONS INCLUDE DIRECTLY GUARDING THE CELLS (LOCKING AND UNLOCKING THE DOORS, CHECKING THE INDIVIDUAL INMATES, TRANSMITTING ORDERS); PROVIDING FOR INMATES' NEEDS (PHYSICAL AND MENTAL HEALTH, HYGIENE, FOOD, CLOTHING, PROTECTION FROM FIRE HAZARDS); AND MAINTAINING ORDER AND PEACE WITH THE INSTITUTION. THE OSTENSIBLE EDUCATIONAL, THERAPEUTIC ROLE OF THE GUARDS IS ACTUALLY PLAYED BY PRISON DOCTORS WHO DO NOT EVEN CONSULT GUARDS, AND ATTEMPTS AT LOUVAIN TO INTEGRATE GUARDS INTO THE INSTITUTION'S EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM HAVE MET WITH LITTLE SUCCESS. INTERVIEWS WITH GUARDS IN 1970 AND 1973 INDICATE THAT THEY ARE PARTICULARLY DISSATISFIED WITH THEIR RELATIONSHIP TO THE MANAGEMENT, WHICH DOES NOT ALWAYS SUPPORT THEIR DISCIPLINARY EFFORTS OR UNDERSTAND THE DIFFICULTY OF THEIR POSITION; THAT IT IS ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO ENFORCE REGULATIONS IN AN ORGANIZATION WHICH IS BECOMING MORE LIBERAL; THAT THEY HAVE NO ROLE IN DETERMINING NEW INSTITUTIONAL POLICIES; AND THAT IN PRACTICE THEIR ROLE IS CONFINED TO REPRESSIVE ACTIVITIES IN NO WAY CONDUCIVE TO RESOCIALIZATION. GUARDS ARE FORCED BY THE INSTITUTION TO LIVE SIDE-BY-SIDE WITH INMATES IN A STATE OF ALIENATION, ALTHOUGH THEY WOULD PREFER A MORE SATISFACTORY PERSONAL RELATIONSHIP. THE RELATIVELY TOLERANT WORKING RELATIONSHIP WHICH DEVELOPS IS BASED ON RECOGNITION BY BOTH PRISONERS AND GUARDS THAT THEY CAN MAKE LIFE DIFFICULT FOR ONE ANOTHER. IT IS EMPHASIZED THAT THE GUARDS' SITUATION ILLUSTRATES THE AMBIGUITIES AND CONTRADICTIONS OF NEW PRISON POLICIES FAVORING INMATE RESOCIALIZATION AND LIBERALIZATION. --IN FRENCH. (KMD)