World behind bars : the prison officers' culture in Malta

Abstract

This study presents an opportunity to explore what is meant by 'prison officer culture', presenting new knowledge about the daily life and the unique culture as gleaned from the insights of the prison officers in Malta. The research first explored the role and investigated the working style of the officer. This led to identifying whether there exist a correctional officer culture. The aim of this was also to explore and assess the officer's attitude, orientation, and personality characteristics in the light of their experiences and interactions with prisoners. Eleven focus groups of eight officers each were conducted to help identify the cultural characteristics of correctional officers. Correctional officers, gradually establish their own habits and settle into a routine (Crawley, 2004). Elements that were identified in this sub-culture consisted of: a preoccupation with punishment and security, tolerance to differences, the importance of officer - inmate relationship and the adoption of a survival attitude to work indistinctly, safely and purposefully. This analysis concludes that prison officer subculture in Malta has many similarities to those found aboard. It is a unique culture because officers have the same physical conditions as prisoners, work in a stressful environment with long shift work, characterised by understaffing and role ambiguity.