Techniques of legitimation: The narrative construction of legitimacy among immigration detention officers

Abstract

In many countries, immigrating detention is a controversial issue. Immigration detention centres are frequently seen as concrete symbols of the most problematic side of state immigration control. Immigration detention is often seen as illegitimate by external (immigration law activists) and internal (detainees) critics. Detention centres, in short, frequently operate with a significant legitimacy deficit. This deficit creates problems for detention centre officers who want to feel good about themselves and the work they do. The professional role of the immigration detention officer can be personally challenging and emotionally demanding. Detention centre officers need to address the legitimacy deficit and somehow reconstruct themselves and the institution they work in as legitimate. This paper describes the narrative self-legitimation work that goes on when detention centre officers at the Police Aliens Holding Centre at Trandum, Norway share stories over lunch or a cup of coffee.

Questions of Legitimacy in Probation Practice after Transforming Rehabilitation

“…It will take some time to assess the effects of such fragmentation for offender populations and questions of equity of service provision, impact on diverse populations – women, ethnic minorities, young adults – reoffending rates, and desistance processes. What is already clear is that considerable damage has been done to some individual probation staff's sense of being a member of a ‘collective of professionals doing an important job well’ (Ugelvik , p.226).…”

“…This exemplifies respondents who believe that they are part of a ‘collective of professionals doing an important job well’ (Ugelvik , p.226). The survey included a question on whether respondents felt that their own, and the values of the service, had come under pressure recently and why this might be.…”

“…), usually in terms of internal legitimacy and external legitimacy, and it is this legitimacy which may require legitimation activity. Perceptual legitimacy and expressions of consent by those subjected to expressions of power and coercion, probation supervisees in this instance, is not automatic and may be made more likely and reinforced by an active process of ‘legitimation work’ by those who are empowered to carry out such roles on behalf of the State (Ugelvik ). In turn, such ‘legitimation work’ is likely to be underpinned by practitioners’ notions of self‐legitimacy.…”

“…Responses reflected practitioners’ liminal state (Robinson, Burke and Millings ), and their expectations and concerns about moving to work within either the CRCs or the NPS. We have analysed responses to a range of questions based loosely on elements of Bradford and Quinton's (, pp.1028–9) correlates of self‐legitimacy as well as the importance of narrative legitimation work (Ugelvik ), and have considered: respondents’ professional values; their attachment to either the NPS or the CRC; the internalisation of organisational goals; a sense of being supported by the organisation; and a belief that practitioners are legitimate holders of authority.…”

“…Whilst this has emerged as an area of interest in the policing literature (for example, see Bradford and Quinton 2014;Hough et al 2010;Sunshine and Tyler 2003), in other criminal justice occupations, legitimacy, and in particular, self-legitimacy, has been explored to a lesser extent. In one study, writing about immigration detention officers in Norway, Ugelvik (2016) discusses the 'backstage self-legitimation work' undertaken by detention officers and discusses the narratives that officers used to bolster self-legitimacy in light of a perceived external legitimacy deficit. A few studies have considered the impact of perceptions of legitimacy upon probation practice and compliance with probation requirements (Hucklesby 2013;McNeill and Robinson 2013).…”