CORRECTIONAL OFFICER AS A COUNSELOR - A PROMISING DEVELOPMENT IN MANPOWER UTILIZATION

• NCJ Number: 10467
• Author(s): W D LEEKE; H M CLEMENTS
• Date Published: Unknown
• Length: 11 pages
• Corporate Author: South Carolina Dept of Corrections
• Publication Format: Document
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

TRAINING CORRECTIONAL OFFICERS TO FUNCTION IN A HELPING RELATIONSHIP WITH INMATES IS RECOMMENDED TO DECREASE NEED FOR PROFESSIONAL COUNSELORS IN CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTIONS.

Abstract

A TRAINING PROGRAM DESIGNED BY TWO PSYCHOLOGISTS WAS ADMINISTERED TO CORRECTIONAL OFFICERS FROM VARIOUS DEPARTMENTS OF CORRECTION. A PORTION OF THE PROGRAM INVOLVED THE DEVELOPMENT OF THREE NECESSARY THERAPEUTIC CONDITIONS. THE FIRST, GENUINENESS, REFERS TO AN HONEST OPENNESS TO EXPERIENCING WITHIN THE HELPING RELATIONSHIP. THE SECOND CONDITION, NON-POSSESSIVE WARMTH, IS A PRE-CONDITION FOR THE HELPING PERSON'S ABILITY TO SENSE THE FEELINGS OF THE PERSON BEING HELPED. THE FINAL CONDITION, ACCURATE EMPATHY, INVOLVES SENSIVITY TO WHAT THE PERSON BEING HELPED IS CURRENTLY FEELING AND THE VERBAL ABILITY TO COMMUNICATE THIS UNDERSTANDING. RESULTS SHOWED THAT AFTER COMPLETING THE TRAINING PROGRAM, THE CORRECTIONAL OFFICERS SIGNIFICANTLY INCREASED THEIR ABILITY TO PROVIDE ACCURATE EMPATHY. THE IMPROVEMENTS IN THE OTHER TWO THERAPEUTIC CONDITIONS WERE NOT AS SIGNIFICANT. ONE SUGGESTED EXPLANATION IS THAT CONSIDERABLE EXPOSURE IS REQUIRED TO BECOME COMFORTABLE AND GENUINE IN THIS FUNCTION.