Rapport and Relationship Building in a Therapeutic Community: Examining the Dynamic Between Correctional Officers and Incarcerated Persons

Abstract

Correctional officers (COs) are vital to prison safety. While focused on security, some believe COs should also be trained to engage in the rehabilitation of incarcerated persons by offering motivation and support. This study examined incarcerated persons’ perceptions of COs working in a prison-based therapeutic community (TC). Data were gathered through qualitative interviews with individuals detained in a state correctional system for men. Findings revealed several themes related to incarcerated persons’ perceptions of COs’ knowledge toward treatment, their experiences and interactions with COs, and recommendations about how to improve the role of COs as therapeutic agents of change. Practical opportunities for implementing correctional research and practice using a positive criminology perspective are considered.

Procedural justice in prison: Examining female inmates’ experiences, perceptions, and interactions with correctional officers

“…A prison environment is complex, and the responsibility for demonstrating procedural justice for all inmates is shared equally among all correctional staff. Correctional officers, however, are placed in a challenging position as their job requires them to maintain order, instill punitive measures when necessary, and ensure the safety and security of all, while maintaining a good rapport with inmates (Abdel-Salam et al, 2023; Bottoms & Tankebe, 2012). Such rapport allowed correctional officers to learn about issues and concerns related to institutional operations, thus establishing a line of communication between the inmates and prison administrators (Abdel-Salam & Sunde, 2018), and further developing procedural justice within correctional facilities.…”

Positive Criminology and Positive Psychology

“…Our third article (Abdel-Salam et al, This issue) explores the perceptions of people incarcerated in therapeutic communities (TCs) toward the corrections officers with whom they interact and live. Findings of this qualitative work suggest that improving correctional officers’ knowledge of substance recovery and their awareness of their own interpersonal interactions with those in TCs could increase the effectiveness of TCs.…”