They’re Banging’ Too!” A Typology of Correctional Officers Developed from Formerly Incarcerated Narratives

• In Event: The Politics of Punishment

Abstract

In the literature there are existing typologies of correctional officers, however, the existing typologies are developed based solely on data collected from correctional officers or prison administrators. Missing from the literature is the voice of the incarcerated individuals who interact with correctional officers on a daily basis. The present study utilized 30 in-depth semi-structured interviews with formerly incarcerated individuals to develop a typology of correctional officers. Interviewees identified three types of correctional officers: greasy, gang-affiliated, and asshole. Greasy officers promoted and encouraged extralegal governance and allowed violence between inmates as a control mechanism. Gang-affiliated officers identified as gang members and actively worked to protect the interests of their organization. Asshole officers utilized violence against inmates and reinforced the degradation of self. Although based on a small sample of formerly incarcerated individuals, these findings reveal the need for further study of correctional officers from the vantage point of the men and women under their care.

Authors

• Jennifer Marie Ortiz, Indiana University Southeast

• Pamela Lynn Smykal, John Jay College of Criminal Justice