"Hur fan kan man jobba som kriminalvårdare?": en studie i hur kriminalvårdare ser sin yrkesroll ur en psykosocial kontext

This analysis explores the psychosocial aspects in relationship to the occupational role as a correctional officer in Sweden. Historically prisons are hierarchically structured with a military organisation used as the basis for a role model. This military type structured organisation is designed to keep the prisoners under constant observation, thus providing direct authority and control by the prison guards over the prison inmates. Data obtained from investigations conducted by the Swedish Government indicate a direct link between the prisoners's living conditions and the prison employee's work duties and environment. The data strongly suggests that the work needs of prison guards have significant priority over the general work conditions of inmates, thus showing that the status for the occupational role was relatively low. Further investigation revealed what factors tend to influence an individual to choose criminal justice as a profession and what factors affect their decision to remain in the field of criminal justice. After a qualitative study of six prison officers about their choice of occupational role, a pattern emerged showing the genuine intent of correctional officers to affect the prisoner's onward progression into a non-criminal existence. Various programs introduced by the Swedish correctional system afford the prison guards the opportunity to constructively participate in the prisoners' daily lives, thus effectively contributing to their own feeling of a purposeful and meaningful goal oriented career. Negative aspects, however, emerged as well. Correctional officers are faced with a stressful and hazardous work environment. The officers must deal with negative comments on a daily basis as well threats and violence from the inmates. Weak leadership skills within the personnel structure played a major role in contributing to a non-cohesive work environment