NCJ Number
58328
Date Published
1978
Length
12 pages
Annotation
THE EVOLUTION OF THE PARAMILITARY STAFF STRUCTURE IN ENGLAND'S PRISONS IS TRACED, AND SOURCES OF DISCONTENT AMONG PRISON STAFF IN ENGLAND AND ELSEWHERE ARE IDENTIFIED.
Abstract
THE FUNCTIONS OF THE PARAMILITARY STRUCTURE AS IT WAS INTRODUCED AND DEVELOPED IN ENGLAND'S PRISONS DURING THE LATTER HALF OF THE 19TH CENTURY ARE DESCRIBED, AND THE RESPONSE OF PENAL REFORM GROUPS TO THE PARAMILITARY STRUCTURE AND TO OTHER PENAL DEVELOPMENTS OF THAT ERA IS NOTED. THE SUBSEQUENT TREND TOWARD REHABILITATION AND TREATMENT AND ITS EFFECT ON PRISON STAFF ARE THEN EXAMINED. IT IS POINTED OUT THAT PRISON OFFICERS HAVE COME TO FEEL ALIENATED FROM SOCIETY, FROM THEIR EMPLOYERS, FROM REFORM GROUPS THAT MONITOR PRISON AFFAIRS, AND FROM THE PRISONERS THEMSELVES. OFFICERS FEEL THAT THE PRISONS ARE NO LONGER UNDER THEIR CONTROL, ALTHOUGH SOCIETY CONTINUES TO BLAME THEM FOR ESCAPES AND DISRUPTIONS. SOMETIMES OFFICERS FEEL THEY ARE ON THE LOSING SIDE IN A COMPETITION WITH INMATES FOR RESOURCES AND RESENT INMATES' RECEIVING ASSISTANCE (E.G., EDUCATION) THE OFFICERS THEMSELVES WOULD LIKE TO HAVE. SOME OFFICERS FEEL THE WORK DONE BY SOCIAL WORKERS AND OTHER SPECIALISTS IS WORTHLESS, WHILE OTHER OFFICERS FEEL THAT, WITH TRAINING, THEY THEMSELVES COULD DO THE WORK BETTER. PRISON OFFICERS ALSO FEEL THAT TREATMENT SPECIALISTS ARE MORE ALIGNED WITH INMATES THAN WITH PRISON STAFF. OFFICERS RESENT NOT BEING CONSULTED IN PENAL POLICYMAKING AND NOT BEING GIVEN DUE CONSIDERATION BY REFORM GROUPS. BECAUSE OF THESE AND OTHER PROBLEMS, PRISON OFFICERS RESPOND TO ORGANIZATIONAL CHANGE WITH RESISTANCE, SOMETIMES AMOUNTING TO MILITANCY, AND RECRUITMENT AND DEVELOPMENT OF GOOD PRISON STAFF IS DIFFICULT. BECAUSE THE ATTITUDES OF PRISON STAFF REFLECT SOCIETY'S CONFUSION ABOUT PRISONS, COMMUNITIES NEED TO CLARIFY THE AIMS OF PRISONS. PRISON STAFF SHOULD BE ENCOURAGED TO PARTICIPATE IN THE CLARIFICATION PROCESS. A LIST OF REFERENCES IS INCLUDED.