Inmates and Correctional Officers Criminal Justice Essay

Inmates and Correctional Officers Criminal Justice Essay

Overview

In the case study provided, a criminal justice officer has an intimate relationship with an inmate that is prompting her to compromise her integrity. The inmate, Lisa, has the correctional officer, Marge, to mail a personal letter to a friend, an action that violates prison policies. Marge is unsure how to react, as mailing the letter would result in unplanned consequences. Lisa, on the other hand, is adamant that the letter is important and should be mailed urgently. The case scenario poses several ethical concerns that can be solved in different ways.

Relationships of trust between inmates and correctional officers are not uncommon. How could such a small violation of prison policy create any problems?

Intentionally violating a policy for an inmate friend will cause problems because these rules are set by the state for the benefit of all recipients. Trusting relationships between inmates and correctional officers appear to be normal in the prison facility mentioned. However, the relationships must cease being intimate when issues of policy violation arise (Nuseir & Ghandour, 2019). The correctional officers must be aware that they serve the state, and teaching criminals the value of integrity should be part of their greatest concern. Therefore, while relationships between correctional officers and inmates are typical, their closeness must be defined when issues of integrity arise.

What could the CO do to maintain the relationship and not violate the rules?

The correctional officer must inform Lisa that she will not mail the letter as it could propel severe consequences for her. Lisa must understand that if the correctional officer is apprehended sending a personal letter for an inmate, they will likely lose their jobs (Nuseir & Ghandour, 2019). The correctional officer should be firm in her words, and if she successfully does this, Lisa will understand and stop asking for assistance on an issue that violates prison policy.

Is violating rules always an ethical transgression?

Violating rules is not always an ethical transgression. If a child lives in an abusive home and the parents have rules that personal family matters should not be discussed with outsiders, then breaking these regulations is not an ethical transgression (Nuseir & Ghandour, 2019). However, in the case study scenario, violating prison rules to please an inmate is an ethical violation for the reasons explained.

References

Nuseir, M. T., & Ghandour, A. (2019). Ethical issues in modern business management. International Journal of Procurement Management, 12(5), 592-605. https://doi.org/10.1504/ijpm.2019.102153

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Inmates and Correctional Officers Criminal Justice Essay

Write a 1/2 to one page (150–275 words) response in which you answer the three questions that follow the case study below:

As a female correctional officer, you have been working at the same women’s prison for fifteen years. The inmates call you Marge and respect you as being firm yet fair. You have made some mistakes during your career, but no one has ever questioned your intentions or integrity. Like anyone working in prison, you have found some inmates you like more than others. However, it is rare for you to find an inmate with whom you cannot work at all. In fact, you are dedicated to the point that you will often spend some of your own time participating with the female inmates in recreation, arts and crafts, and other cell-block activities.

There is one inmate you are particularly fond of. She is a young woman about nineteen years of age who is on a drug offense. Lisa is a shy girl who comes from a broken home. She never had much of a family life; both of her parents had failed in previous marriages. Lisa’s drug problems started in high school when she got mixed up with the wrong crowd. She had felt accepted by the drug crowd, and life seemed easier to cope with while on drugs. Lisa was beginning to use hard drugs when she got busted. Because she was with a friend who was selling large quantities of drugs, her bust resulted in a trial and a two-year sentence.

While in prison, Lisa has come to you on several occasions with personal problems. Being a first-time offender, she has found prison life tough to adjust to. You and she have become good friends in a mutually trusting relationship. On this particular day, however, your relationship is being tested.

Lisa has asked you to mail a personal letter to a close friend who lives in her hometown. Since her friend is not a member of her family or her lawyer, his name is not on the approved mailing list. She knows your mailing the setter would violate institutional policy but says it is very important to her that she contact her friend just this one time. You know that other correctional officers occasionally mail letters to inmates. You also realize that it would be relatively easy for you to mail this particular letter. Still, it is a violation of policy.

If you do not mail the letter, your relationship with Lisa will more than likely deteriorate. If you do mail the letter, you may suffer unanticipated consequences. The decision is going to be a difficult one, and you are going to have to make it. Answer the following:

Relationships of trust between inmates and correctional officers are not uncommon. How could such a small violation of prison policy create any problems?
What could the CO do to maintain the relationship and not violate the rules?
Is violating rules always an ethical transgression?