Correctional Officer Deviance
Deviance is an act that violates the generally accepted norms. Correctional officer deviance involves the inappropriate work-related activities engaged by COs. The response to deviance actions from CO is hampered in the situation where many facilities and organization workers violate existing policy or practice, which has occurred for a considerable time. There are three categories of correctional officer deviance based on the deviance; Deviance against the institution, against inmates, and fellow. Deviance involves the inappropriate use and misuse of agency equipment and property, purposely shirking duties, stealing facility property, and accepting gifts from inmates and contractors on the deviance of CO against the institution.
In the example of misusing the agency equipment, the COs takes multiple opportunities to exploit the organizational resources for their benefits. The best examples of the misuse of equipment and property include the simple use of photocopy machines to make a birthday invitation and school-related texts. Other incidence includes stealing office supplies and equipment for use at home, and borrowing equipment, especially vehicles, to keep their vehicle at home. The use of correction equipment in a manner it is not mandated to be used for.
Another example of deviance that is against the institution is the purposeful shirking of duties. COs from time to time fail to perform their duties, not because they are incompetent and unable to remember. This type of deviance reaches the point where the COs falsify log entries after failing to perform their patrol or rounds. The deviance actions in the example may involve leaving the assigned area without authorization and refusing to respond to prisoners and even fellow officers’ requests. It also includes the actions of taking longer breaks and lunch hours than allowed by the supervisors.
COs engage in theft of property owned by the correctional facility. This example shows deviance through the stealing of property. COs may steal food from the mess hall and take home to feed the farm animals, while others may sell the food. In other incidences, items of value disappear from the facility. They are found in possession of the correctional workers.
Acceptance of gifts from the inmates and contractors is also an example of deviance against the institution. Occasionally, inmates attempt to offer gifts to COs with the hope they will get a future favor. Contractors and suppliers also may offer discounts and gratuities on goods and services. COs and the administration should not accept gifts and gratuities. They may eventually lead to corruption and preferential treatment of inmates and contractors.
The solution to the first example is proper and thorough training of the COs, which involves skills and knowledge and ethics, rules, and regulations of the assigned position. Understanding ethical issues and the rules and regulations reduce the misuse of the facility’s property and equipment. For the second example, a solution would involve the conducting of thorough background investigations on applicants. The investigations and interviews should eliminate candidates who would use purposely not to perform their duty through proper employee Assessment. For the third example, professionalism should be encouraged and instill in the culture of exposing waste and violations of rules. In the fourth example, the creation and use of an internal affair unit that will be effective in investigating the allegations made against an officer and administrator about wrongdoing.
References
Ross, J. I. (2016). Key issues in corrections. Policy Press.
