NCJ Number
57416
Date Published
1978
Length
6 pages
Annotation
PSYCHOLOGICAL TRAINING OF NEW CORRECTIONAL OFFICERS TO UNDERSTAND THE CRIMINAL PERSONALITY AND TO RESPOND TO AFFECTIVE, COGNITIVE, AND BEHAVIORAL PROBLEMS OF INMATES IS DISCUSSED IN THIS ARTICLE.
Abstract
PSYCHOLOGY HAS MUCH TO OFFER THOSE INVOLVED IN THE CORRECTIONS FIELD. TRAINING IN PSYCHOLOGICAL PRINCIPLES CAN HELP REDUCE THE USE OF PHYSICAL FORCE OR THREATS OF PHYSICAL FORCE AND CONTRIBUTE TO THE SMOOTH RUNNING OF INSTITUTIONS. THE PROPER USE OF PSYCHOLOGICAL PRINCIPLES WILL ALSO REDUCE STRESS AMONG STAFF AND INMATES. OFTEN CORRECTIONAL OFFICERS ARE THE FRONTLINE MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONALS SINCE MOST INMATES DISTRUST PSYCHIATRISTS, PSYCHOLOGISTS, AND SOCIAL WORKERS. INMATES WOULD PREFER TO CONFIDE IN CORRECTIONAL OFFICERS BECAUSE OF THEIR FREQUENT CONTACT WITH THEM. THEREFORE, CORRECTIONAL OFFICERS NEED TO HAVE SUFFICIENT KNOWLEDGE OF PSYCHOLOGICAL TECHNIQUES TO ENABLE THEM TO BE GOOD OBSERVERS AND TO RESPOND TO CRISIS SITUATIONS. TRAINING IN BOTH THE THEORETICAL AND APPLIED ASPECTS OF PSYCHOLOGY WILL ENHANCE THE ABILITY OF OFFICERS TO INTERVIEW IN POTENTIAL OR ACTUAL CRISIS SITUATIONS. FOR EXAMPLE, TRAINING IN BEHAVIORAL ANALYSIS ENABLES OFFICERS TO OBSERVE INMATE BEHAVIOR MORE EFFECTIVELY AND ACTIVELY. CORRECTIONAL OFFICERS SHOULD LEARN ABOUT THE PATTERNS OF BEHAVIOR ASSOCIATED WITH CRIMINALS. THEREFORE, A TRAINING PROGRAM SHOULD INCLUDE A DESCRIPTION OF THE MODAL PERSONALITY PROFILE AND BEHAVIORAL SYMPTOMS ASSOCIATED WITH CHARACTER DISORDERS, BEHAVIOR DESCRIPTION AND APPROPRIATE CONTROL PROCEDURES, TRANSACTIONAL ANALYSIS, RATIONAL EMOTIVE THERAPY, AND REALITY THERAPY. A DIAGRAM IS INCLUDED.