Correctional Officers Research Articles

“I feel like it should be but I know it’s really not”: exploring physical fitness priorities at the correctional training program in Canadian federal corrections

ABSTRACT The correctional training program (CTP), composed of three stages, includes a 14 week in-person component that Correctional Officer Recruits (CORs) must complete prior to their employment as a federal Correctional Officer (CO) for Correctional Service Canada (CSC). The CTP prepares recruits for a plethora of CO responsibilities, some dependent on physical fitness, such as responding to codes being called, physical altercations, or violent situations. Unlike other public safety positions (e.g. policing, border services, or coast guard) CSC does not require occupational fitness testing. In the current article, we use data from a multiyear longitudinal study of federal COs from across Canada to unpack how CORs manage physical fitness expectations at CTP; CSCs’ expectations of COR physical fitness; and outline what types of physical fitness (e.g. weightlifting, cardiovascular, self-defence) are taught, thus valued most, during CTP. We situate the voices of CORs regarding physical fitness within the broader “body” literature and discuss policy recommendations tied to physical fitness, specifically COs’ interest in reinstating pre-employment physical fitness screening.

Exploring the Impact of Workplace Violence on the Mental Health of Chinese Correctional Officers: A JD-R Model Approach.

Correctional officers face widespread workplace violence and the resulting overwork that can profoundly damage their physical and mental health. This study aims to investigate the mediating role of overwork in the relationship between workplace violence and the manifestation of physical and mental health issues among correctional officers. This study enlisted 472 eligible participants. Cross-sectional data were obtained using the Chinese version of the Workplace Violence Scale (WVS), while the physical and mental health of correctional officers was evaluated through relevant scales. Analysis involved descriptive statistics, correlation analyses, and tests for mediation models. The study found significant correlations between workplace violence, overwork, and various mental health variables (depression, anxiety, stress, suicidal ideation, and insomnia), with correlations ranging from 0.135 to 0.822 (p < 0.01). Mediation analysis revealed that workplace violence directly impacts correctional officers' physical and mental health (p < 0.001) and also has an indirect effect through overwork (p < 0.023). These findings underscore the substantial impact of workplace violence on the health of correctional officers, both directly and indirectly. Workplace violence and overwork significantly contribute to the physical and mental health challenges faced by correctional officers. Overwork acts as a mediator in the relationship between workplace violence and these health issues. The study suggests addressing workplace violence and mental health issues among correctional officers by increasing their numbers, improving the work environment, and implementing enhanced welfare policies.

A silent threat behind bars: Serosurvey and associated risk factors for strongyloidiasis in female inmates and correctional officers

Strongyloidiasis has been a neglected parasitic infection caused by Strongyloides genus parasites. Despite assessment of S. stercoralis exposure in different vulnerable populations, seroprevalence in inmates worldwide remains to be fully established. Due to poor sanitation and lack of personal hygienic practices, incarcerated individuals have been considered prone to spread infectious illnesses. Accordingly, the present study has assessed exposure and associated risk factors for strongyloidiasis in women inmates and correctional officers at the Women's State Penitentiary of Parana, part of the third largest incarceration complex in Brazil at the time. Blood samplings were performed in 2020 and 2021from a total of 503 women inmates and 92 correctional officers. Participants voluntarily responded to an epidemiological questionnaire to assess associated risk factors to strongyloidiasis. Serological analysis was performed by ELISA for anti-S. stercoralis IgG detection. Statistical analysis was performed using R software, adopting a 5% level of significance. The data were submitted to univariate analysis by chi-square or Fisher´s Exact test for assessing the association among seropositivity and the variables. The variables with p-value < 0.2 in the univariate analysis were considered fit to be included in the logistic regression. In overall, 356/503 (70.8%; 95% CI: 66.7-74.6) inmates were seropositive for anti-S. stercoralis antibodies, with no statistically associated risk factor to seropositivity. A total of 57/92 (62.0%; 95% CI: 51.8-71.2) correctional officers were seropositive, and logistic regression revealed that individuals older than 50 years were more likely seropositive. In conclusion, the high endemicity observed herein has indicated a history of previous exposure to S. stercoralis and warned for a systematic strongyloidiasis screening for inmates, to prevent long term morbidity and disseminated infection during incarceration.

Sleep quality and mental disorder symptoms among correctional workers in Ontario, Canada

Correctional workers (CWs) report high levels of work stressors, frequent exposures to potentially psychologically traumatic events (PPTEs), and substantial mental health challenges. There is evidence of associations between sleep disturbances and diverse mental health challenges, including preliminary evidence from public safety personnel; however, replications and extensions would better inform interventions to support mental health. The current study was designed to examine associations between quality of sleep, work stress, and mental health disorders in a sample of diverse CWs employed in a provincial correctional service in Ontario, Canada. Data were analyzed from 943 CWs who participated in the cross-sectional, web-based Ontario Provincial Correctional Worker Mental Health and Well-Being Study conducted from December 2017 to June 2018. Sleep quality indicators included symptoms of insomnia, total hours of sleep per night on work nights and off-shift nights, number of days feeling rested per week, and overall sleep quality. Descriptive statistics, analyses of variance, correlational analyses, and logistic regression were used to examine relationships among sleep quality, stress of shift work, and mental health disorder symptoms. CWs slept an average of 6.0 h per night when working and 7.2 h during off-shift nights. CWs reported waking up feeling rested an average of 2.6 days per week and rated their overall quality of sleep in the fair to poor range. Many CWs (64.9%) screened positive for clinically significant symptoms of insomnia. There were also differences across occupational groups such that CWs working as correctional officers reported the most sleep problems. There were statistically significant relationships between insomnia and mental health disorder symptoms. Higher levels of stress from shift work were associated with worse sleep quality. CWs, especially those working as correctional officers in a provincial prison, reported many indicators consistent with poorer quality of sleep. Poor quality of sleep was also associated with work stress and mental health disorders.

The prison boom, local interpersonal violence, and domestic violence homicide

ABSTRACT The US prison system has exploded since 1970, dramatically reshaping social, political, and economic life in rural communities. Since 2000, roughly one in five rural Americans resides in a prison town. The prison boom is the largest public works project perhaps since the New Deal. Despite a growing interest in prison building, there is a dearth of research examining prison impact – the economic, political, and social costs and benefits for communities that result from building a prison. In this paper, we fill this gap by studying the relationship between prison impact – measured as binary prison presence and cumulative prison count – on violent crime, specifically, intimate partner and domestic violence homicide (IPV/DV). We explore the theoretical foundations for this relationship, including the economic, geographic, and social effects of prisons and correction officers as a high-risk group for perpetrating IPV/DV. Contrary to conventional wisdom, we find evidence of a negative association between prison impact and IPV/DV homicide, with an additional prison in the county corresponding with 0.04–0.12 fewer homicide events. While we are not advocating for prison building as a violence nor crime reduction strategy for communities, our findings complicate the policy consequences of the prison boom, especially in rural communities.

TEST OF THE VALIDITY AND RELIABILITY OF THE SOCIAL STIGMATIZATION SCALE OF ATTITUDES TOWARDS PRISONERS (ATP) CORRECTIONAL CLIENTS

One of the challenges in the correctional system is the negative stigma associated with clients and released inmates, making it difficult for inmates to integrate positively into society. Until now, there has been no method to assess the extent of the community's attitudes towards released or parolee inmates in a specific region. This research aims to test the validity and reliability of the Attitudes Towards Prisoners (ATP) scale in the Indonesian language. Developed by Melvin, the ATP scale has been validated and demonstrated good trial reliability, with excellent consistency when tested in various countries. The adaptation of this instrument involved steps such as Forward-Backward Translation, instrument panel testing based on translation results, instrument revisions, content validity, back translation, instrument approval, data collection, and instrument reliability. For testing the validity and reliability, the scale was distributed online using Google Forms to 224 respondents, including correctional groups, students, the general public, and correctional officers. The results of the ATP scale's validity test found that 35 items were valid, while 1 item was not valid, with a Cronbach's Alpha value of 0.917. The findings of this study recommend the use of the ATP as a supporting instrument in assessing the community's attitudes towards released inmates and further research in the field of inmate integration.

Do Substances Used in Adolescence Predict the Persistence of Substance Use Disorders in Adulthood? A 15-Year Study of Youth After Detention

PurposeInvestigate if the type of substance use disorder (SUD) in adolescence predicts SUDs in adulthood and examine sex and racial/ethnic differences in the persistence of SUDs. MethodsData are from the Northwestern Juvenile Project, a 15-year longitudinal study of 1829 youth randomly sampled from detention in Chicago, IL (1995–1998). Interviewers assessed SUDs using structured diagnostic interviews. ResultsCompared with females without an SUD at detention, females with cannabis alone, comorbid alcohol and cannabis, or SUDs other than alcohol and cannabis at detention had higher odds of having an SUD 5 years later (25%, 32%, and 36% vs. 15%, adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 1.94, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.11–3.40; AOR = 2.76, 95% CI 1.58–4.83; AOR = 3.46, 95% CI 1.56–7.66, respectively). Males and females with SUDs other than alcohol and cannabis at detention had greater odds of having an SUD 15 years later, compared with those without an SUD at detention (males: 36% vs. 14%, AOR = 2.98, 95% CI 1.14–7.83; females: 29% vs. 8%, AOR = 4.77, 95% CI 1.85–12.30). Among youth with an SUD at detention, males were more likely than females to have an SUD 15 years later (AOR = 1.84, 95% CI 1.03–3.29); non-Hispanic White and Hispanic males were more likely to persist than Black males (AOR = 3.32, 95% CI 1.50–7.35; AOR = 2.32, 95% CI 1.04–5.18, respectively). DiscussionThe type of SUD during adolescence matters. Youth with SUDs such as cocaine and opioids fared the worst. Healthcare providers must collaborate with correctional officials to increase service provision.

Psychometric properties and invariance of the Police Stress Questionnaire in the Romanian context

This research evaluates the psychometric properties of the Romanian version of the Police Stress Questionnaire (PSQ), featuring operational and organizational stress scales for police officers. We conducted three studies to test the reliability and validity of this questionnaire. The first study (N = 744) aimed at adapting and validating the Romanian version on the specific population. Confirmatory factor analysis of our two-factor model, each with 20 items grouped in a second-order factor, showed the good value of the fit indices: χ²(738) = 1420.11, p < .001; CFI = 0.992; TLI = 0.992; RMSEA = 0.035 [90% CI 0.033, 0.038]; SRMR = 0.059. Subsequently, we tested measurement invariance, demonstrating that the Romanian version of this questionnaire measures workplace stress (including operational and organizational stress factors) independently of the work environment (police officers vs. correctional officers). The second study (N = 394) confirmed PSQ’s convergent validity through positive correlations with stress perception, burnout, mental health complaints, and psychological distress and its discriminant validity through negative correlations with job satisfaction and work engagement. The third study tested the longitudinal invariance of the stress questionnaire for police (N = 317). The findings suggest that the PSQ is a reliable and valid tool, highlighting its significant impact on the well-being of Romanian police officers by facilitating stress management interventions through baseline and ongoing stress assessment. Future research should longitudinally assess police stress, incorporating multi-source data and diverse units, as well as exploring the impact of socio-demographic aspects for broader insights.

Obscenity Factories: Profanity and Community in Workgroup Cultures

How does profanity contribute to community at work? While obscene talk might be viewed as contrary to the establishment of collegial ties, such discourse can, under the right circumstances, reinforce group sociality as well as challenge hierarchical control. In some sites of labor, participants are permitted—even expected—to use “bad language.” Rather than undermining local culture, this form of communication supports it by revealing the intensity of salient moments. We situate profanity as a means of deepening group membership (affiliation), defining a status hierarchy (division), and delineating boundaries (distinction). Not all workplaces are characterized by profanity, but those that are we label “obscenity factories,” emphasizing the production of community through conversational deviance. To examine this process, we utilize descriptive ethnographies of trauma doctors in war zones, restaurant cooks, wildland firefighters, and correction officers.

INTERPERSONAL COMMUNICATION STRATEGY FOR PRISON OFFICERS IN DEVELOPING PRISONERS IN CLASS IIA COMMUNITY INSTITUTIONS SERANG

Prisoners are also social creatures who will need others to interact continuously. The interaction will involve communication, and the importance of communication in the application of interpersonal communication strategies to carry out coaching aimed at improving the behavior of prisoners in Serang Class IIA Prison. The problems examined in this study include observing the interpersonal communication strategies of prison officers in fostering prisoners and the obstacles that exist during its implementation. This research was conducted to find out the application of interpersonal communication strategies of Correctional Institution officers in fostering prisoners and to find out the obstacles to the application of interpersonal communication strategies at Class IIA Serang Correctional Institution. The method used is a qualitative method, which examines in depth with data collection techniques such as observation and interviews. This research uses the theory of interpersonal communication strategy which is a process of relationship with others. The results of his research apply strategies from the dimensions of positive attitudes, supportive attitudes, empathy, openness, and equality and their implementation is almost running well because the coaching carried out has followed existing procedures, although there are still things that happen in prisons such as inmate indiscipline, it can be resolved wisely with communication. In carrying out the coaching program, of course, Serang Class IIA Prison has inhibiting factors, namely barriers in the delivery process, psychosocial barriers, lack of transparency, and different language styles.

Community corrections officer professional orientation: reintroducing the “passive officer”

ABSTRACT Previously, researchers have focused extensively on punitive, welfare, and paternal professional orientations of community corrections officers, frequently employing data collection and analysis efforts that depend on conceptualizing professional orientation as a continuum between surveillance and assistance approaches. Through measurement, analysis, or data interpretation, many studies have failed to consider the presence or prevalence of the passive professional orientation. Using a mixed methods approach, the current study observes a meaningful minority of officers within one state department who adopt a passive orientation, identifies orientation correlates, and explores officers’ interpretations of a passive orientation. Quantitative results suggest that officers’ race, professional background, and tenure are related to their professional orientation. During interviews, officers emphasized that their personal career trajectory, experiences of compassion fatigue and burnout, and ongoing departmental shifts can impact professional orientation. Notably, officers spontaneously reaffirmed the relevance of the professional orientation construct. Research implications from this study include a re-evaluation of how research conceptualizes and measures professional orientation, primarily a shift away from framing professional orientation as existing between two polarized approaches. Policy implications provide guidance for community corrections departments regarding supporting line officers experiencing burnout associated with dual role conflict.

OPTIMIZATION OF ASSESSMENT OF RISKS AND NEEDS OF PRISONERS IN THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE INDEPENDENCE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM IN CLASS IIA COMMUNITY INSTITUTIONS PEMATANG SIANTAR BENGKULU

In social life, children's development tends to be in the spotlight because children are predicted to be the next generation who are the hopes of parents, families, religion, and even the state. Concerns about a child's future arise when a child comes into conflict with the law due to a criminal act he or she has committed and is serving a prison term. However, these concerns were dispelled by the presence of legislation which ensured that this country paid more attention to its human resources. This research aims to produce a service based on a humanistic approach carried out by correctional officers for assisted children, where later this service can become a forum for developing children during their criminal period as well as preparing children for a better life after the criminal process is completed. This study used qualitative research methods. By taking a humanistic concept which refers to basic needs, security needs, social and affection needs as well as self-actualization needs which will later be applied to the Class IIA Bengkulu Special Development Institute for Children.

The Moral Impacts of Organizational Stress on Correctional Officers

Organizational stress (i.e., structural aspects of the organization such as excessive workload, shiftwork, gossip) has long been found by public safety personnel to be more impactful on their health and wellness than operational stress (i.e., inherent stresses of the job such as altercations, intervention in suicide behaviors). In the current study, which engages semi-structured interviews conducted with 28 correctional officers employed at one provincial prison in Atlantic Canada, we unpack through a lens of moral distress four prevalent sources of organizational stress among correctional officers that emerged in the data without categories precogitated, with a focus on participant experiences and expressed similarities across accounts: (1) management, (2) staff retention, (3) training needs, (4) lack of mental health support. Findings indicate organizational stress has a significant impact on correctional officers and these sources of organizational stress are exacerbated by officers’ moral and ethical vulnerabilities emergent from their conditions of employment. We recommend several practical changes to ease the strains and moral harms felt by correctional officers and better support their mental health and well-being, such as increasing staffing levels, providing more education and training opportunities for frontline officers and senior leaders, and providing more adequate mental health support for correctional officers.

Examining the intersection of carceral space and well‐being: Correctional officers' perspectives on old and new prison design

AbstractIn the current study, we explored the prison design and infrastructural changes that Canadian correctional officers consider to be essential in the construction of a new provincial correctional institution intended to replace Her Majesty's Penitentiary (HMP) in the Canadian province of Newfoundland and Labrador. Analyzing 28 semi‐structured interviews conducted with correctional officers employed at HMP, we found the poor working conditions within HMP are, at least in part, related to the physical design of the prison, including inadequate lighting, poor air quality and temperature, high sound levels, and other spatial limitations. Building on the prison design literature, findings suggest that while prison design requires attention to physical security at the forefront, there are ways to improve the space, recognizing how an uncomfortable workplace and living conditions also pose a potential threat to the well‐being and safety of correctional officers and people who are incarcerated.

Staff As a Conduit for Contraband: Developing and Testing Key Assumptions of Professional Boundary Violations in Prison

ABSTRACT The breach of professional boundaries by correctional staff involves various transgressive behaviors and improper relationships with incarcerated individuals. Extant literature has focused on identifying and measuring such behaviors using non-probability samples of correctional officers and formerly incarcerated individuals from single jurisdictions. This research aims to build on this body of work by exploring how key measures related to a specific type boundary violations – staff involvement in introducing contraband – affects the level of contraband in 301 prisons across six states. We investigate three key assumptions about staff motivations for smuggling contraband into their facilities. Some motivations, such as (1) inappropriate relationships with residents and (2) financial gains, tend to be premediated while others, like (3) the lack of accountability and oversight at work, can create opportunistic circumstances that affect staff motivations. The results from negative binomial regression show modest support for each assumption tested in explaining the levels of contraband drugs and cellphones while accounting for relevant prison characteristics. We conclude by delving into the implications of our findings for research, policy, and practice.

Examining Differences in the Individual and Contextual Risk Factors for Police Officer, Correctional Officer, and Non-Protective Service Suicides

Examining Differences in the Individual and Contextual Risk Factors for Police Officer, Correctional Officer, and Non-Protective Service Suicides

MHFA pilot in correctional setting benefits COs, inmates

Observing the need and opportunity for corrections officers to effectively respond to at‐risk inmates experiencing a mental health crisis, Rutgers Health researchers, with the assistance of the National Council for Mental Wellbeing, conducted a Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) pilot program in a prison setting. The evidence‐based intervention was aimed at corrections officers (COs), who are considered to be the first line of response in a correctional setting.

Remote mental health first aid training for correctional officers: A pilot study.

Mental health first aid (MHFA) training is a low-cost, evidence-based intervention that teaches trainees to recognize signs of mental distress. Thirty correctional officers (COs) were recruited to participate in a remote MHFA intervention study. The COs were divided into three MHFA training sessions, with no more than 10 COs per group. Data collection assessments included pretest and posttest surveys and a focus group meeting. Of the 30 eligible CO participants, 27 completed the study, including follow-up assessments. Nine COs participated in a focus group meeting-one third (n = 9) of the CO participants identified as female, and the remaining identified as male. Most CO participants self-identified as White (n = 17), and two thirds (n = 18) of the CO participants were 35-54 years old. There was a strong military influence, with about close to half (48%) of COs identifying as a veteran. A paired sample t test was used to analyze whether there were any differences in mental health knowledge scores from pre- and postintervention. There were no significant differences between the pre- and postintervention results for the five MHFA knowledge items. The Wilcoxon signed-rank test was used to analyze differences in pre- and postintervention data for mental health referral items. From pre- to posttraining, COs reported that it would be easier to make a mental health referral for someone experiencing a mental health challenge (Z = -2.087, p = .037). At 12 weeks, COs referred 2.6 (SD: 4.30, range 1-20) people incarcerated for mental health services. The reasons for referral included: "suicidal thoughts," "experiencing anxiety over being incarcerated during COVID," and "considering self-harm." A phenomenological approach was used to analyze the focus group meeting. The themes identified were: (a) COs experience with MHFA training was viewed positively (facilitators); (b) there is a need to improve mental wellness in correctional settings (barriers); and (c) mental health referral process for incarcerated individuals needs enhancement when implementing MHFA (barriers). MHFA training for COs is necessary to equip COs with the skills to safely support and refer incarcerated people experiencing a mental health crisis. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

Effect of Big Five Personality Traits on Organizational Commitment in Correctional Officers : Mediating Effects of Job Stress and Coworker Relationship

Effect of Big Five Personality Traits on Organizational Commitment in Correctional Officers : Mediating Effects of Job Stress and Coworker Relationship

Sociodemographic Background Predisposing Youths into Gang Violence in Lagos Metropolis, Nigeria

The historical and constitutional responsibility of youths in any country cannot be underrated because youth remain one of the vital weapons for accelerating and harmonizing societal orderliness Evidence gathered from extant publication shows that youth formed the larger percentage of people apprehended for violence activities in most correctional facilities in the world. In Nigeria, Extant publications were reviewed while Anomie and rational choice theories were adopted for the study. Mixed methods were adopted for collections of data from the inmates in the Lagos correctional facility approved for the study400 hundred copied of structured questionnaires in the three approved corrections in Lagos But 347 of the questionnaires were retrieved for the quantitative analysis while 36 out of 40 interviews conducted were found useful using In-depth interview for the inmates while key informant interviews were used for collection of verbal data from the member of the Nigeria Police Force, Correctional Officers, market men/women and community elders in Lagos. The concluded that gender positioning (t-047), family background (t-=083) and marital status (t=014) significantly predisposed youths into violent activities compared with employment (t= 816), age (t=123) and level of education (t=482). In addition, the qualitative data indicated that immaturity and poor parental background influence youth gang violence. The social interventionist should encourage the family, youths and community members to get involved in decision making, adequate youth development programme should be encouraged and youth should develop act of self-creativity and innovation toward promoting self-image in Nigeria