1. Chapter Thirteen Institutional Management

2. Learning Objectives
Be familiar with the principles used to organize the functioning of prisons.
Discuss the importance of prison governance.
Discuss the different job assignments that correctional officers are given.
Understand the negative consequences of boundary violations and job stress among prison staff.

3. Learning Objective 1
Be familiar with the principles used to organize the functioning of prisons.

4. Concepts of Organization
Unity of command:
Subordinates should report to only one supervisor
Chain of command:
A series of organizational positions in order of authority, with each person receiving orders from the one immediately above and issuing orders to the one(s) immediately below.
Span of control:
A supervisor can effectively oversee only a limited number of subordinates.

5. Concepts of Organization
Line personnel:
Employees who are directly concerned with furthering the institution’s goals and who are in direct contact with clients.
Custody force
Industry and agricultural supervisors
Counselors
Medical technicians
Majority of personnel
Organized along military lines

6. Concepts of Organization
Staff personnel:
Employees who provide services in support of line personnel; examples of staff personnel including training officers and accountants.
Usually work under the deputy warden for management
Custodial employees make up the majority of the institutional personnel
Professional Staff (Clinicians, Teachers, Doctors)are typically separate from the custodial personnel

7. Concepts of Organization
Warden
Chief executive of institution
Institution’s main contact with the outside world
His/Her attitude sets the tone for the entire organization.
Today’s warden needs a variety of skills to adequately manage a large organization like a prison.

8. Table 13.1 Primary duties and tasks of prison wardens

9. Learning Objective 2
Discuss the importance of prison governance.

10. Governing Prisons Inmate balance theory:
For a prison system to operate effectively, officials must tolerate minor infractions, relax security measures, and allow inmate leaders to keep order.
Developed by Clemmer & Sykes
This theory provides insight on maintaining order and avoiding collective violence.
Administrative control theory:
Prison disorder results from unstable, divided, or otherwise weak management.

11. Governing Prisons Effects of administrative breakdown:
Inmates believe their conditions of confinement are not only bad, but unjust.
Officials become indifferent to routine security measures and day-to-day tasks of prison management.
Permits gangs and other illicit groups to flourish, may help mobilize disturbances.

12. Governing Prisons Most important factor in governing prisons:
Sound and firm management of inmates and staff.
Order
Absence of individual or group misconduct threatening the safety of others.
Amenity
Anything that enhances the inmates’ creature comforts.
Service
Programs designed to improve the life prospects of inmates.
Courtesy to residents and strong limits are also important factors related to prison governance.

13. Governing Prisons
Four factors that make governing prisons different from administering other public institutions:
Defects of total power
Limited rewards and punishment
Co-optation of correctional officers
Strength of inmate leadership

14. Governing Prisons
Accommodative relationships between officers and inmates:
Negotiations are central to prisoner control, correctional officers cannot have total control over inmates.
Once an officer defines a set of informal rules with prisoners, the rules must be respected by all parties.
Some rule violations are “normal” and consequently do not merit officers’ attention or sanctioning.

15. Governing Prisons Management is successful when prison directors:
Are in office long enough to learn the job, make plans, and implement them.
Project an appealing image to a wide range of people, both inside and outside of the organization.
Are dedicated and loyal to the department, seeing themselves as engaged in a noble and challenging profession.
Are highly hands-on and proactive.

16. Learning Objective 3
Discuss the different job assignments that correctional officers are given.

17. Correctional Officers
Block officer:
Closest contact with prisoners
Oversee unit maintenance
Watch for potential breaches of security
Handle inmates’ personal problems and answer questions
Enforce rules
Inmate safety
Carry out orders of warden
Responsible for the movement of inmates

18. Correctional Officers
Work detail supervisors:
Supervise various work details connected with inmate labor.
Inmate-officer relationship can be analogous to worker and foreman in a factory.
Due to the dynamics of work, the relationship between work detail supervisors and prisoners is more intimate than it is within the facility.
Industrial shop and school officers
Maintenance and security responsibilities
Work alongside civilians, shop supervisors, teachers, and counselors.
Keep attendance
Handles inmate problems and complaints

19. Correctional Officers
Yard officers:
Yard most unstructured environment in the prison
Supervising inmates
Main objectives are to maintain order and provide security
Administration building assignments:
Very little contact with inmates
Interact with administrators, commissioner’s office, and civilians
Carefully selected due to consistent contact with the public

20. Correctional Officers
Wall posts:
Towers
Generally no contact with inmates
Solitary and boring
Typically new recruits
Relief officers:
Variety of tasks, fill in vacancies of other positions

21. Learning Objective 4
Understand the negative consequences of boundary violations and job stress among prison staff.

22. Job Stress Factors: Consequences: Relationships with co-workers
Departmental policies
Length of time on job
Consequences:
More sick time
More problems at home
Heart disease
Eating disorders
Substance abuse

23. Job Stress Advantages of reducing stress and burnout:
Financial savings
Fewer resources expended
Overtime
Hiring
Safety levels
Staff morale

24. Boundary Violations
Behavior that blurs, minimizes, or disrupts the social distance between prison staff and inmates, resulting in violations of departmental policy.
One study found:
80% of violations involved dual-relationships, consensual
8% were general boundary violations
12% staff-inmate sexual contact

25. Boundary Violations Violations contribute to: Disorder
Potentially jeopardize officers’ safety
Costly lawsuits
Violations typically take place in newer prisons with less experienced staff members
Boundary violations are serious issues that must be addressed by corrections staff

26. Use of Force Use of Force is another significant issue in corrections.
5 situations exist where it is acceptable to use force.
Self Defense
Defense of Third Persons
Upholding Prison Rules
Prevention of Crime
Prevention of Escapes