Correctional Officers and Prison Staff Ethical Issues

Though inmates may lack a solid moral fiber, the prison is a site of numerous ethical issues for guards, lawmakers and officials who run correctional systems.

Except in the rare cases of innocence, convicts are in jail because they did something bad and or wrong. In many cases, they have stolen, killed, or caused other harm to people and society. Punishing prisoners by locking them up in an extremely unpleasant place for a long time aims to deter potential criminals from perpetrating similar deeds. However, at the same time, poor and unsafe conditions harden their anti-social instincts, making it difficult for them to re-enter society after release. To make them productive citizens, educational and vocational training can help as well as a reasonable guarantee of protection against brutality from guards and other prisoners.

Prison guards face numerous ethical dilemmas on the job. For example, well-connected prisoners have many opportunities to bribe them for better treatment. Other inmates may be abusive to guards for no reason. In either case, the guard must treat prisoners equally. They must enforce prison rules firmly and consistently. Not only does this policy ensure smooth prison administration, it provides an ethical model for prisoners to follow.

According to An Ethical Dilemma in Corrections by Albert De Amicis (2005), the problem of sexual misconduct committed by male correctional officers on female prisoners is a problem that has reached epidemic proportions throughout the nation. The corrections profession is considered to be one of the most challenging careers in existence today.

Why? You might ask.

 This is because a normal day consists of dealing with some of the most difficult, violent, and unruly criminals locked behind bars. Whether correctional staff work in large, medium, or small in facilities, there is one common factor. Personnel, by their position and authority, are empowered to control the environment at their correctional facility. When a staff member falls prey to an inmate who manipulated him or her into an indiscretion, this breaches the security network. This break can result in injury or death of staff/inmates/visitors, escape, and/or introduction of contraband (Cornelius 2001, p.175).

Although a difficult profession the ethical standards are important and must be maintained such as rendering professional service to the justice system and the community at large in effecting the social adjustment of the offender. And the upholding of the law with dignity and integrity displaying an awareness of responsibility to offenders while recognizing the right of the public to be safeguarded from criminal activity.

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