Concerns for Corrections Staff and Inmates

Concerns for Corrections Staff and Inmates

Staff hierarchy

Staff in correctional facilities is made up of three types of staff; the administrative, custodial, and program staff, with each group having unique predefined roles. Due to the amount of pressure that corrections officers face, there was a need to split the burden among several people. The highest rank in the administrative staff is the warden, who is the camp administrator. Being the leaders, they are responsible for the complete discretion of their facilities and to preside over managerial and technical prison-related activities. Wardens are also accessible to inmates who serve time inside maximum-security correctional facilities. Associate wardens and camp administrators are next in the hierarchy. They are assigned several departments within the facility over which they preside over. Some of the associate warden’s positions include the associate warden of programs who preside over unit management and associate warden of operations who is responsible for food service and management of building operations  (“Organization, Mission and Functions Manual: Federal Bureau of Prisons,” 2018).

Next, in the hierarchy of leadership in a correctional facility is the executive assistant who is the only person other than the warden who is authorized to speak with the media concerning prison issues. It is usually expected that whenever an inmate approaches any member of the Executive staff that they should respond to them in a patronizing tone to make them recognize that they share a common humanity. Under the department heads, there is a case manager, a unit secretary, and a counselor (“Organization, Mission and Functions Manual: Federal Bureau of Prisons,” 2018).

The custodial staff is more concerned with managing the inmates by performing security checks, writing reports, and supervise visiting. Their role also includes reviewing prisoners and escorting them during visits. Also, they are responsible for advising the prisoners on the best available prison programs as well as providing support for prisoners when they are in need (“Organization, Mission and Functions Manual: Federal Bureau of Prisons,” 2018).

Next in the hierarchy is the Assistant Director who oversees the health services division, the correctional programs division, and the information policy and public affairs division. The regional directors are next in the hierarchy. The field operations officers are the lowest in rank in federal prison (“Organization, Mission, and Functions Manual: Federal Bureau of Prisons,” 2018).

Goals of correctional staff members

            Since most people land in prisons due to criminal or violent activities, they need to be punished for their wrongdoings. Retribution is the primary goal of correctional officers. It includes punishment, such as being given heavy tasks within the prison. It usually happens in prisons, which have little focus on the rehabilitation of the inmates (Brockman, Van Hasselt, & Booth, 2011). This method may not be effective in a specific category of criminals who become more fierce and dangerous to the officers. However, due to the fear of being subjected to severe punishment, some inmates do improve their behavior.

Some correctional facilities train their officers to use deterrent means to handle prisoners. They do this by instilling fear and doubt in the inmates in case they intend to do something wrong. Also, as a means to prevent more people from coming to prison, corrections officers and administrators may use deterrence to give people the perception that criminals will be caught and punished. This method is useful in stopping crime and preventing prisons from being overpopulated (Brockman, Van Hasselt, & Booth, 2011).

Another goal of correctional officers is to incapacitate the inmates. Since they are being punished for their crimes, their freedom should be limited, thus preventing them from committing further crimes. Incapacitation helps inmates adapt to the confined environment where they can learn new skills and eventually abandon their twisted behavior. By removing criminals from society, they are put in a situation where they will not be able to commit crimes (Brockman, Van Hasselt, & Booth, 2011).

The best way to approach correction is rehabilitation. Corrections officers are equipped with the skills to help inmates change their behavior. In the case of drug addicts, being confined in prisons, and being engaged in rehabilitation activities may help them become better citizens once they are released. The primary role of correctional officers in rehabilitation is to facilitate activities that aim to change the behavior of prisoners and to help them learn pro-social ways of dealing with frustrations and pressure (Brockman, Van Hasselt, & Booth, 2011).

Powers

Correctional staff is granted several powers to serve inmates most professionally. They have legitimate power that makes them have a sense of power in the presence of inmates. Since enforcing the law is the primary function of correctional officers, they need to exert authority over the inmates. Secondly, they have referent power, which helps the officers earn trust and respect from inmates. They view the officers as leaders rather than the brutal and corrupt officers that exist in such facilities (Wooldredge & Steiner, 2016).

Expert power gives the inmates a different view of the officers. It makes the officers appear to be having valuable special skills that would be beneficial to the inmates. This power is obtained from the skills and experiences that the officers have. Consequently, inmates feel comfortable while asking for help from an officer who portrays expert power. Rewards power is portrayed by officers when they reward inmates for good deeds or for improving their hands-on skills. It fosters a positive relationship between officers and inmates. Coercive power is portrayed when officers use force and brutality to pass a message. This is a probable cause of prison riots and disrespect between inmates and officers (Wooldredge & Steiner, 2016).

Corruption in prisons

Corruption in prisons is portrayed by specific behavior such as a denial of responsibility and injury. In the event of an injury, the officer may claim to have been the victim in the circumstance. Also, they may claim that their actions are justifiable and that they did not cause any harm to anyone. In other occurrences, officers may favor some prisoners by giving them better treatment and access to unauthorized resources due to the monetary gain. This is fostered by the insufficient annual salary they earn, which is 14% less than the national median household income. A study on corruption in Rikers facility revealed that the daily potential earning of officers from smuggling drugs is approximately $650 (“Prison Corruption – The Problem and some Potential Solutions,” 2016).

Apart from the low earnings of correctional officers, another cause of prison corruption is the lack of consequences for corrupt behavior. Officers can freely engage in corruption without being worried that they might be consequences for their actions. Also, there is no supervision for correctional officers. Without supervision, officers can sometimes be unruly, and the rate of corruption may increase. Sometimes, correctional officers are employed without being correctly oriented and given clear job expectations. Being unsure of what is expected of them makes them perform their duties without having a guideline to help them perform well (“Prison Corruption – The Problem and some Potential Solutions,” 2016).

In 2017, a group of eleven people made up of inmates, and correctional officers were arrested are charged in court for allegedly smuggled drugs such as heroin and marijuana and cell phones in prison. Anibal Navarro, a former corrections officer, was the primary focus of this investigation after he was arrested in an attempt to smuggle drugs and cell phones in prison. Martin Gomez, an inmate at RJD, stated to have recruited Navarro to smuggle drugs and mobile phones in prison, and other parties outside the prison aided him. Gomez was transferred to another correctional facility with immediate effect  (“Former Corrections Officer, Inmates and Others Arrested in Drug Smuggling Conspiracy at Richard J. Donovan Correctional Facility,” 2017).

Examine the underlying factors and symptoms of stress for correctional officers

Correctional officers portray symptoms of stress, especially for those who have been in the profession for years. Most correctional facilities house the most dangerous criminals who continue to cause violence even while in containment. Housing such criminals may be a security threat for correctional officers who always need to stay alert and be cautious of such inmates. As a result, officers lose their connection with the inmates and are unable to be empathetic about the inmates’ traumatizing circumstances. Their general behavior also gets affected, and they begin to have negative thoughts all the time, complaining, and lack of attention to details (Tewksbury & Higgins, 2006).

The best way to deal with the stress that correctional officers face is to engage them in stress programs. A stress program can be beneficial to correctional administrators by improving officer performance, increasing the safety of the institution, and realization of financial savings due to reduced sick time. Avoiding unnecessary stress can help correctional officers learn to say no in some situations and avoiding contact with people, both fellow officers and inmates who cause stress. An alternative way of handling stress is to create time for fun and relaxation. Having a healthy lifestyle and avoiding the use of alcohol and drugs can help officers handle the stress they experience at work (Tewksbury & Higgins, 2006).

References

Brockman, A., Van Hasselt, V. B., & Booth, B. (2011). Development of the Correctional Officer Stress Survey. PsycEXTRA Dataset. doi:10.1037/e670572011-001

Former Corrections Officer, Inmates, and Others Arrested in Drug Smuggling Conspiracy at Richard J. Donovan Correctional Facility. (2017, February 28). Retrieved from https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdca/pr/former-corrections-officer-inmates-and-others-arrested-drug-smuggling-conspiracy

Organizationrganization, Mission, and Functions Manual: Federal Bureau of Prisons. (2018, October 24). Retrieved from https://www.justice.gov/jmd/organization-mission-and-functions-manual-federal-bureau-prisons

Prison Corruption – The Problem and Some Potential Solutions. (2016). Center Advancement Public Integrity. Retrieved from https://www.law.columbia.edu/sites/default/files/microsites/public-integrity/files/prison_corruption_-_capi_community_contribution_-_september_2016.pdf

Tewksbury, R., & Higgins, G. E. (2006). Prison staff and work stress: The role of organizational and emotional influences. American Journal of Criminal Justice, 30(2), 247-266. doi:10.1007/bf02885894

Wooldredge, J., & Steiner, B. (2016). The Exercise of Power in Prison Organizations and Implications for Legitimacy. Journal of Criminal Law and Criminology, 106(1).