Correctional Officer Rating of Prisoner Adjustment on Entry to Prison

Simple item page
dc.contributor.authorDollard, J.
dc.contributor.authorDollard, M.
dc.contributor.authorByrne, M.
dc.contributor.authorByrne, S.
dc.date.issued2003
dc.description.abstractThe aim of this longitudinal research was to assess and monitor adjustment (operationalised in terms of anxiety) of 60 prisoners as they entered prison and one month later. Results confirmed very high levels of anxiety on admission, which reduced after one month, but still remained significantly higher than adult population norms. Given that Correctional Officers (COs) play an integral role in identifying ‘at risk’ prisoners, 44 officers were recruited to rate prisoners’ adjustment, on entry to prison and one month later. Results showed that COs were good at assessing prisoner distress on entry to prison but heuristic errors occurred in predicting later adjustment, and in reassessment at one month. Prisoners’ anxiety remained high, and therefore the ability to rate prisoner adjustment was just as important one month later. The study underscores the importance of diligent observation during at least the first month of imprisonment, and the need for CO training to achieve this.
dc.description.statementofresponsibilityJ. T. Dollard, M. F. Dollard, M.K. Byrne and S. Byrne
dc.identifier.citationInternational Journal of Forensic Psychology, 2003; 1(1):92-102
dc.identifier.issn1448-4374
dc.identifier.orcidDollard, J. [0000-0002-1018-6633]
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/2440/55742
dc.language.isoen
dc.publisherUniversity of Wollongong
dc.source.urihttp://www.uow.edu.au/health/psyc/ijfp/issues/ssLINK/UOW045099
dc.subjectCorrectional Officers
dc.subjectPrisoner Adjustment
dc.subjectAssessment
dc.subjectRisk
dc.titleCorrectional Officer Rating of Prisoner Adjustment on Entry to Prison
dc.typeJournal article
pubs.publication-statusPublished

Files

Collections

Psychology publications