Determining the Ratio of Male to Female Prison Officers Working in Federal Prisons in Canada

• In Event: New Research on Prisons

Abstract

The Mandela Rules and the Arbour report, among others, argue women in prison should, at minimum, have the option to reside in a prison entirely staffed by women. The federal correctional service in Canada has a ratio of approximately 20-30 percent of prison officers, called primary workers, being men. I was tasked to determine i) if men should work in women’s prisons; ii) the base number ratio of women necessary to perform all functions that should be performed only by women (and what those functions are); and iii) the ideal ratio of what residents and staff desire for men working in women’s prisons. I completed interviews with women’s prison residents and with correctional staff in all six federal women’s facilities in Canada. Further, I job-shadowed primary workers working at two federal women's facilities for approximately two weeks to witness how men interacted with residents, and the effects of their presence. I also spent time talking to residents and employees about their perspectives. Findings demand men be employed as primary workers for many reasons (role model, security, perspectives, comfort levels, “dad vibe”, etc.). I present the minimum versus proposed desired ratios with implications for future policies, legislative changes, and applied practices.

Author

• Rosemary Ricciardelli, Memorial University