NCJ Number
51933
Date Published
1977
Length
0 pages
Annotation
CORRECTIONAL OFFICERS DISCUSS PROBLEM INMATE BEHAVIOR, SUPERVISORY APPROACHES FOR OBTAINING DESIRABLE INMATE BEHAVIOR, AND THE OBJECTIVES OF DISCIPLINE. THE FILM IS INTENDED FOR CORRECTIONAL OFFICER TRAINEES.
Abstract
CORRECTIONAL SUPERVISION INVOLVES TECHNIQUES USED BY OFFICERS TO INDUCE INMATES TO ACHIEVE SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES AND TO BEHAVE IN A CERTAIN MANNER. THE OVERALL OBJECTIVE OF INMATE SUPERVISION IS TO DEVELOP ORDERLY AND CONTROLLED ENVIRONMENTS WITHIN CORRECTIONAL FACILITIES. INMATES OFTEN ENGAGE IN CON GAMES TO ESTABLISH A REPUTATION AMONG OTHER INMATES, CHALLENGE THE AUTHORITY THAT HAS PUT THEM BEHIND BARS, AND MAKE ESCAPE POSSIBLE. SUCH GAMES MAY INVOLVE ATTEMPTS TO BECOME FAMILIAR WITH OFFICERS, TO ACT AS INFORMANTS IN RETURN FOR FAVORS, AND TO OBTAIN MINOR FAVORS WHICH CAN BE USED TO BLACKMAIL OFFICERS TO OBTAIN FUTURE FAVORS. CORRECTIONAL OFFICERS SHOULD MAINTAIN OPEN LINES OF COMMUNICATION AMONG ALL SHIFTS, REFUSE TO DISCUSS THEIR PERSONAL LIVES WITH INMATES, BE ALERT TO THE BEHAVIOR PATTERNS OF INMATES, AND REFUSE TO DISCUSS OTHER INMATES OR STAFF. SUCCESSFUL OFFICERS UNDERSTAND THEIR DUTIES AND THE RULES OF THE INSTITUTION; THEY HAVE THE ABILITY TO COMMUNICATE CLEAR, CONCISE, AND DIRECT ORDERS, AND THEY MAINTAIN CONSISTENT TEMPERAMENTS. OFFICERS SHOULD RECOGNIZE INDIVIDUAL DIFFERENCES IN INMATES' TEMPERAMENTS AND ABILITIES AND ASSIGN JOBS TO INMATES ACCORDINGLY. THE GOAL OF CORRECTIONAL DISCIPLINE IS TO CORRECT IMPROPER INMATE BEHAVIOR AND MAKE IT ACCORD WITH INSTITUTIONAL GOALS. PUNISHMENT SHOULD BE USED FOR INFLUENCING INMATE ATTITUDES AND BEHAVIOR AS A LAST RESORT. POSITIVE AND NEGATIVE DISCIPLINARY APPROACHES ARE DISCUSSED.