Professional Role of Prison Officers (From Current Australian Trends in Corrections, P 8-14, 1988, David Biles, ed. -- See NCJ-119105)

• NCJ Number: 119107
• Author(s): I C Hill
• Date Published: 1988
• Length: 7 pages
• Sale Source: Federation Press (Distributed by Gaunt)
• Publication Type: Program/Project Description
• Language: English
• Country: Australia

Annotation

The role of correctional officers in Western Australia has been gradually changing in recent years as a result of analyses and discussions during the prison department's corporate planning process in 1984.

Abstract

Changes had already begun to occur in the 1970's with the establishment of more formal selection procedures and mandatory training courses with examinations. However, the 1984 studies revealed overly centralized decisionmaking, job dissatisfaction among correctional personnel, and lack of a sense of a common goal. Changes were therefore initiated to give correctional staff an integral role in all aspects of the management of prisons. Four main strategies have helped achieve these changes. The main responsibility for welfare services has been reassigned from welfare officers to prison officers, unit management procedures have been introduced where appropriate, case management procedures have been established, and officers are being trained in their new roles. It is too early to tell if the changes have succeeded, but preliminary results are encouraging.