lecture 13 - working in prisons Flashcards
most prison research is concerned with what
prisoners
what are the effects of prisoners officers crucial for
crucial to understanding the prison experience and why some prisons are more survivable than others
what is at the heart of the whole prison system
relations between staff and prisoners
- control and security flow from getting that relationship right
3 operational roles for staff
occupational support grades
prison officers
prison managers (governors)
examples of non operational roles
psychologists
probation officers
healthcare workers
educators and trainers etc
the typical prison officer used to be
- homogenous group of middle aged family men with military backgrounds
the typical prisoner officer now
- cross posting
-greater emphasis on interpersonal skills than physical strength
lower level of violence in mens prisons due to what
due to good levels of female staff
what continuities for the typical prisoner officer are there
(what hasn’t changed)
very basic entry requirements
limited, practical on the job training
what is new for typical prisoner officers
- custody and detention professional apprenticeship
- gender specific training to work in female estate
what are prison officers motivated by
-economic pragmatism
-self other actualisation
the reason why people become prison officers becomes apparent when
reflects and over time affects how they do their job
what are officers called sometimes in prison slang
turnkey
warder
screw
what is the priority for officers who are called turnkey and warders
security and supervision of offenders
regime delivery
gatekeepers
what are carers for older prisoners called and what role may arise from this
care bears
potential therapeutic role arising from cross posting
what type of role model are officers
pro-social role models
promoters of rehabilitative cultures
what do prison officers need a skill in the correct exercise of
- power and authority - NOT the rules
need to recognize that prisons operate by consent
not too suspicious or too lax
what ratio of prison officers to prisoners is there typically
1:30
prison officers need discretion in what way
power and authority - not the rules
staff professionalism
both able and willing to get things done
what is important in prison staff discreiton
- occupational culture
- institutional memory
- individual experience
the exercise of discretion reflects upon and is reflected in the prisons?
moral performance
- overall tone and feel of a prison
what affects the prisons moral performance
- staff shortages
- turnover
- overcrowding
- resource constraints on prisoners and officers
what is HMPPS the single largest employer of in england wales
forensic psychologists
what is a primary task in prisons for psychologists
report writing: assessment of risk and criminogenic needs pre and post OBP
what do prison psychologists also contribute to in prisons
- management policies
- work for headquarters
- approve research access
what are humanist psychologists?
what are they frustrated by?
every prisoner has the ability to change, with support and treatment
- frustrated by focus on risk-oriented work with loss of wider therapeutic human service
what are functionalist psychologists focus
focus of role is public protection
untroubled by coercive aspects
what is distinctive about prison officer work
it requires a sophisticated, dynamic and often subtle use of power through relationships
psychologists exercise power how
indirectly through risk assessment
- reports and recommendations influence a prisoners ability to progress and be released
