Experiences and consequences on prison police's well-being

Abstract

In view of the deep crisis affecting Italian prisons and the urgent need to review the sense and meaning of this institution, initiatives promoting innovative custodial and rehab practices are increasing. Our study refers to one of the most advanced Italian prisons as far as prisoners' rehabilitation and re-education are concerned, with activities such as open cells, prisoners' self-organization of recreational–cultural activities, promotion of cooperative working activities both inside and outside the prison, in order to study if and how this detention culture change has caused organizational transformations which affect the professional well-being of operators who manage inmates in penal institutions. A qualitative study involving 15 correctional officers working in the three most critical departments of the building that host the so called “protected” prisoners (long-lasting sentences, drug addicts, and sex offenders) investigates the subjects' experiences and representations of their role and organizational life aspects indicating their professional well-being.

KEYWORDS:

• Professional role
• well-being
• prison police
• detention cultures