Throughout the research we have done within this course and based on the articles we have read associated with attitudes of workers in the criminal justice system, it is exemplified that criminal justice system workers have more punitive attitudes on imprisonment. For example, correctional officers who experience prisoners behavior first hand have the most influence on inmates behavior as they are able to exercise control over inmates. The restrictive nature of the institutional environment makes correctional personnel the only source of daily contact inmates have with the outside community. With firsthand experience in the criminal justice system, workers view its effects on a regular basis and develop their attitudes towards imprisonment through this. This supports the ideology that CJS professionals’ attitudes are more punitive than the majority of the public as they are not exposed to incarcerated individuals on a regular basis.

Correctional Health Care Nurses Attitude towards Inmates

Prisoners’ characteristics and behaviors may evoke negative responses from their caregivers. Yet nurses have a professional responsibility to provide care “not limited by personal attitudes (Attitude towards prisoner score) ATPS questionnaires were collected from 146 nurses practicing at 19 correctional facilities in 5 states. Data was also collected to see if age, gender, education, gender and length of time working in the environment played a role in the nurses attitudes. Results revealed that the age of the respondents and whether they practiced in a jail or a prison setting significantly influenced their attitudes. Overall the attitude scores for nurses were lower than the scores of almost all previously measured groups. The form of data collection was a questionnaire. Data was measured using the ATPS scale. Registered nurses comprised 58 percent of the total. Licensed practical nurses made up 39 percent. 90 percent of the nurses were female. The RNs were significantly older than the LPNs. 105 of the nurses surveyed worked in state prisons (70%). 41 responses were from nurses who worked in jails (30%). Majority of inmates at all prisons and jails were male. ATP scores were higher for males and less for females

Correctional Officer Control Ideology: Implications for Understanding a System

Michael S. Gordon

• The present study examined the attitudes and beliefs of 189 correctional officers at four Maryland State prisons representing various security levels regarding the control of inmates using the Correctional Control Ideology Scale (CCIS). African American and female officers reported lower CCIS scores.
• Control ideology is an individual’s belief or structure of beliefs regarding the philosophy that is used or implemented in order to control or maintain another individual’s life
• The higher the score, the more custodial the viewpoint of the respondent, and the lower the score, the more humanistic the respondent’s control ideology.
• It is noteworthy that female officers comprised a larger percentage (39%) of the sample than anticipated.
• First, 38%  of the respondents agree with the statement that too much money is spent on treatment and rehabilitation. Second, 41% agree that most inmates can be rehabilitated; with 25% believing money spent for treatment and rehabilitation should be used to build more prison cells.
• 45% (n = 85) agree it is more important for inmates to learn to obey the system’s rules than it is for them to succeed in treatment and rehabilitation programs.
• Although most scores were in the middle of the distribution, it is still noteworthy that 59% of officers reported that most inmates could not be treated and rehabilitated.

Critical Thinking Questions/Exercise

1. In what ways could positive attitudes make rehabilitation for prisoners, a realistic and long-term success? (Think: prison nurses)
2. Do you think that prison nurses, or other CJS workers changing their attitudes of prisoners is realistic? What might prompt a re-evaluation for them?
3. What types of control methods do you think students view as “most effective”, prior to experiential learning? What do you think forms their opinions?
4. What would be the most effective ways for students to positively impact incarcerated people and formerly incarcerated people? Think beyond just attitudes.

Exercise:

This is a video of children being reunited with their incarcerated fathers, at a one-day event.  This event is hosted by a prison ministry program called ‘One Day With God’. The goal of this program is to help children reconcile with their incarcerated parents. In the short clip I have picked out, I am encouraging you to pay attention to the actions of the fathers in this video. Video Link    5:53- 6:43

The children in this video have different attitudes towards prisoners, in comparison to the nurses and students in our articles. Of course, the children identify them as “dad” before “prisoner”, due to their personal circumstances.  However, after viewing these prisoners in a different role- we can see how they fulfil a more “humanized” image, when given the opportunity.

-Consider how attitudes towards prisoners may change, if CJS workers and students, viewed prisoners using an intersectional approach. (meaning their identity is regarded as multi-faceted, and not reduced to only one label)

-If this approach would not change one’s opinion on prisoners- could it perhaps be a useful tool in assessing a prisoner, as an individual? Imagine how this might affect their standard of care, from CJS workers.

References

Calaway, Wendy. Callais, Todd. Lightner, Robin. “Going to Prison: The Effect of a Prison Tour on Students’ Attitudes Toward Punitiveness” Journal of Criminal Justice Education, February 22, 2016. Accessed December 8, 2022.

Chang, Juju. Jarvis, Rebecca. “Children of Prisoners Reunite with their Fathers Behind Bars for a Day.” ABC News. December 12, 2015. Accessed December 9, 2022. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i5VV0og-a7w&feature=youtu.be

De Moya, Dorothy. Shields, Kristine. “Correctional Health Care Nurses Attitude towards Inmates”. Journal of Correctional Health Care Published: March 10, 2015. Accessed December 8, 2022.

N/A. “MDOC Prison Tours”. 2022 Mississippi Department of Corrections. April 7, 2016. Accessed December 10, 2022.