Can I Trust My Co-worker? Examining Correctional Officers’ Perceptions of Staff–Inmates Inappropriate Relationships within a Southern Penitentiary System

The Issue of Trust in Shaping the Job Involvement, Job Satisfaction, and Organizational Commitment of Southern Correctional Staff

“…Theoretically, trust at work tends to result in more positive feelings, which in turn results in more efforts, and in the end in greater positive work outcomes, such as job satisfaction or commitment (Dirks & Ferrin, 2001). There are different types of organizational trust depending on the sources and targets of the trust, and the three major types of trust in the workplace are coworker trust, supervisor trust, and management trust (Robertson et al, 2013; Tan & Tan, 2000; Worley et al, 2018). Trust in coworkers is the level of trust a person has in coworkers in looking out the welfare of the person, being honest, and keeping their word (Khany & Tazik, 2016).…”

Forced Sexual Victimization Among Youth in Custody: Do Risk Factors Vary by Gender and Perpetrator?

“…Correctional facilities are often not segregated by gender, and although males outnumber female correctional officers, women are increasingly becoming a larger proportion of correctional staff (Stephan, 2008); there is a strong relationship between correctional officer gender and youth sexual victimization. Worley et al (2018) note that cross-gender supervision “has unfortunately resulted in the creation of new opportunities for male inmates to have sexual relationships with staff” (p. 333; see also Marquart et al, 2001; Ross, 2013; Worley, 2011). The same may also be true for female inmates, though additional research is necessary to determine the incidence and prevalence of each possible victim–perpetrator gender dyad.…”

“…Moreover, additional support should be provided to correctional officers as correctional institutions can be extremely stressful environments. Worley et al (2018) suggest that such stress may “push some employees toward engaging in inappropriate behaviors with inmates” (p. 335). It is possible to hypothesize that such conditions influence poor coping mechanisms.…”

“…The custodial environment needs to support and encourage reporting and view it as valuable. Promoting increased collective efficacy across correctional staff could create “a strong community of correctional staff who mutually trust and support one another” (Worley et al, 2018, p. 342). Development of such an environment could also reduce staff misconduct, as there is literature that suggests that correctional employees who view their supervisors as unsupportive are more likely than their coworkers to engage in acts of deviance, including behaving inappropriately with inmates (Worley & Worley, 2013).…”

“…A step in the right direction would be to address staff culture in organizations that serve youth, particularly in supervisory capacities (see Wurtele, 2012). The thin gray line culture of supporting fellow correctional officers, as well as mistrust of each other (see Worley et al, 2018), may reinforce the staff code of silence, which limits willingness to intervene on behalf of youth or report staff wrongdoing.…”