Inappropriate Relationships in Prison

Name
Inappropriate Relationships Between Inmates and COs
Cooke, B. K., Hall, R. C. W., Friedman, S. H., Jain, A., & Wagoner, R. (2019). Professional boundaries in corrections. Journal of the American Academy of Psychiatry and the Law, 47(1), 91–98. https://doi.org/10.29158/JAAPL.003825-19
In their research article, Cooke and colleagues explore the importance of professional boundaries in correctional settings and possible threats that may occur upon boundary violations. The researchers’ primary objective is to present the causes and underlying conditions for boundary violations on behalf of corrections staff to be able to predict and prevent unprofessional behavior among correctional officers. The authors contextualize the issue with the help of three case studies that demonstrably illustrate the connection between overstepping boundaries in the corrections environment and associated security threats. The first case portrays how a sexual relationship between a correctional officer and an inmate in the Clinton Correctional Facility resulted in the escape of the latter. It is estimated that the officer unknowingly created favorable conditions for the escape after showing signs of affection toward an inmate. The second case briefs the readers on the corruption scandal in the Baltimore City Detention Center when correctional officers were involved in a romantic relationships and financial machinations with a former gang member. With the assistance of corrections staff, the inmate created a criminal organization within a detention facility, smuggling contraband and bribing prison administration. The third case is about the inappropriate behavior of a federal correction officer who was involved in romantic relationship with other inmates, supervisors, and fellow officers. The researchers use these real-life examples to emphasize the necessity of professional training and education for corrections officers so that they can maintain professional boundaries and avoid inappropriate relationships with inmates. The authors also mention risk factors that may increase the probability of unprofessional behavior among corrections

employees. The article ends with a short memo for correctional officers, prison administration staff, and psychiatrists to stick to the code of conduct when it comes to interpersonal relationships with the inmates and be able to communicate their needs when supervision and guidance are needed.
Crewe, B., Schliehe, A., & Przybylska, D. A. (2023). ‘It causes a lot of problems’: Relational ambiguities and dynamics between prisoners and staff in a women’s prison. European Journal of Criminology, 20(3), 925–946. https://doi.org/10.1177/14773708221140870
The research study by Crewe and colleagues is devoted to a detailed analysis of staff- prisoner interaction in women’s prisons. By focusing on correctional facilities for female inmates in England, the authors outline the main characteristics of officer-inmate relationships and gender-related factors that shape these interactions. The researchers argue that staff-prisoner relationships in women’s prisons are characterized by favoritism, inconsistent use of authority from correctional officers, blurred professional boundaries, infantilizing treatment, and pettiness. It is mentioned that corrections staff in women’s prisons often has favorites – inmates who receive special treatment and can count on the officers’ support and leniency even if they disobey the rules. Also, relational inconsistency is commonly observed between correctional officers in the ways they treat different inmates and show their authority. Some of them may treat other prisoners through the lens of prejudice, while others feel their colleagues suppress their authority. Informal and friendly attitudes toward inmates are typical examples of blurred professional boundaries. The overall informality and casualness in staff-prisoner relationships are deemed inappropriate and unprofessional, for they undermine the officer’s authority and reduce the social distance between correctional officers and inmates. This, in turn, may lead to information disclosure and other forms of professional negligence. Incarcerated women may also be infantilized by their correctional officers and treated as children so that they feel petty and mistreated. These behavior-related issues emerge mostly due to female prisoners’ vulnerable status in the correctional facility, their powerlessness, and exposure to traumatic experiences. The article ends with the statement that authority issues and power imbalance pose the main challenges for correctional staff and prisoners since they may lead to inappropriate relationships and hinder access to justice. Accordingly, new solutions and interventions are required for a better assessment of potential threats that may occur as a result of informal interactions between corrections employees and inmates.
Rizzo, D., Davey, B., & Irons, M. (2021). Interpersonal interaction between prisoners and officers in prisons: A qualitative meta-synthesis exploring prison officer wellbeing. Journal of Qualitative Criminal Justice & Criminology, 10(1). https://doi.org/10.21428/88de04a1.918774f5
The article examines the impact of interpersonal communication between prison employees and inmates on the overall well-being of correctional officers. The researchers use qualitative meta-synthesis to detect major themes that prevail in staff-inmate interaction. The thematic analysis and review of existing literature help the authors present six categories that define the complex nature of the officer-prisoner interaction from the corrections employee’s perspective. First and foremost, respect and trust on behalf of correctional staff are essential for maintaining order in the prison fostering similar attitudes between inmates. Second, regulating interpersonal boundaries is at the core of officer-prisoner interaction because it helps keep professional distance and establish formal boundaries. Third, the choice of communication strategy can improve or undermine officer-prisoner relationships. Fourth, maintaining the balance between care and control is necessary for productive communication in correctional facilities. Fifth, individual reflection from a correctional officer is a vital part of an effective communication strategy since it helps avoid professional burnout and prevent inappropriate relationships with inmates. Sixth, the systemic assessment of inmates and their behavior is required to keep the officer informed and prepared for potential disciplinary problems. It also helps avoid misunderstanding and violence that may occur as a result of informal interaction between corrections staff and inmates. The given categories emphasize the significant role of trustworthy relationships, discretion, and advanced communication skills to avoid unprofessional behavior and clearly define the roles of the prison staff and incarcerated individuals. The researchers conclude that appropriate communication strategies between officers and prisoners may help reduce stress and resolve workplace conflicts, protecting the officers’ health and well- being. That is why the authors encourage prison workers to develop professional guidelines that will help them regulate their own behavior and keep an eye on inmates. This approach is integral for conflict prevention and appropriate staff-prisoner relationships.
Schultz, W. J. (2023). Correctional officers and the use of force as an organizational behavior.

Criminology, 61(3), 654–675. https://doi.org/10.1111/1745-9125.12346

The research study addresses the problem of the use of force by correctional officers in prisons. The main issue is that violence and brutality in correctional facilities are commonly viewed as disciplinary measures that help prison staff shape prisoners’ behavior and organize institutional culture. The author conducts a qualitative study by analyzing the interviews with Canadian correctional officers to understand their attitudes toward violence. The findings show that the vast majority of respondents witnessed violent treatment of inmates. Most of them explained the use of violence as a form of control and authority that allowed corrections staff to establish a strict social order within the correctional facility. Others, however, noticed that

violence became inseparable from disciplinary actions, urging the inmates to become submissive and obedient. The author comes up with the conclusion that the more violence is used against prisoners in the correctional facility, the poorer the organizational culture they have. It means that violence against prisoners is commonly viewed as a form of inappropriate behavior that undermines the main goals of the correctional facility and threatens the overall well-being of imprisoned individuals. The researcher, thus, argues that correctional officers are not just guards responsible for the discipline in the prison, but also organizational managers who are expected to remain professional in stressful settings and possess communication skills rather than physical strength to handle a conflicting situation. The transforming role of the correctional officer is discussed as a kind of organizational reform that can potentially reduce the violent treatment of prisoners, promoting justice and respect instead. In this context, the research suggests conducting audits and corrections training so that prison staff understands the negative aspects of violence on incarcerated people and Cos alike. These reforms are also expected to receive policy-driven support, raising public awareness about violence in prisons and possible ways to reduce it.
Vogel, J., Sauter, J., Vogel, B. O., & Dahle, K. P. (2020). Targeting misconduct in prison by modifying occupational factors in correctional facilities. Frontiers in Psychiatry, 11. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyt.2020.00517
The research traces the connection between different forms of misconduct in correctional facilities and occupational factors that may trigger inappropriate and dangerous behavior, threatening prisoners’ health and overall well-being. The goal of the study is to foreground the risk factors that may contribute to poor treatment of inmates and suggest prevention strategies to minimize the threat of recurring misconduct on behalf of correctional officers. The researchers use empirical data from three correctional units in Berlin, Germany to see how working conditions and overall job satisfaction may facilitate or bring about imbalances in staff-prisoner relationships. Accordingly, the main factors linked to professional misconduct in prisons include self-efficiency, team climate, job satisfaction, and sick days. While all these factors are directly associated with the systemic mistreatment of inmates, low self-efficiency and sick days are the most notable indicators of professional misconduct. The researchers claim that sick days of correctional officers may increase the prisoner’s exposure to violence because of temporary replacements. The behavioral patterns and communication skills of these new officers may dramatically differ from those on sick leave, introducing power imbalance and confusing inmates. At the same time, the low level of self-efficiency may trigger correctional officers to take it out on incarcerated people. Violence and brutality may eventually become their forms of coping mechanism and self-actualization. The prison officers may exploit inmates and use their weaknesses to prove themselves worthy. These forms of misconduct demonstrate the important role of occupational factors in shaping officers’ professional behavior and their relationships with inmates. The article encourages correctional officers and prison administration to pay special attention to working conditions in prisons and conduct professional assessments of prison staff to detect any work-related issues. This approach may help protect incarcerated people from misconduct, such as physical or sexual violence, as well as organize the professional practice of correctional officers.

References

Cooke, B. K., Hall, R. C. W., Friedman, S. H., Jain, A., & Wagoner, R. (2019). Professional boundaries in corrections. Journal of the American Academy of Psychiatry and the Law, 47(1), 91–98. https://doi.org/10.29158/JAAPL.003825-19
Crewe, B., Schliehe, A., & Przybylska, D. A. (2023). ‘It causes a lot of problems’: Relational ambiguities and dynamics between prisoners and staff in a women’s prison. European Journal of Criminology, 20(3), 925–946. https://doi.org/10.1177/14773708221140870
Rizzo, D., Davey, B., & Irons, M. (2021). Interpersonal interaction between prisoners and officers in prisons: A qualitative meta-synthesis exploring prison officer wellbeing. Journal of Qualitative Criminal Justice & Criminology, 10(1). https://doi.org/10.21428/88de04a1.918774f5
Schultz, W. J. (2023). Correctional officers and the use of force as an organizational behavior.

Criminology, 61(3), 654–675. https://doi.org/10.1111/1745-9125.12346

Vogel, J., Sauter, J., Vogel, B. O., & Dahle, K. P. (2020). Targeting misconduct in prison by modifying occupational factors in correctional facilities. Frontiers in Psychiatry, 11. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyt.2020.00517