Preliminary Findings on the Prisonization of Street-Level Bureaucrats: The Case of the Scandinavian Prison Project in SCI-Chester

• In Event: Roundtable: Empirical Observations from The Scandinavian Prison Project - Little Scandinavia and Beyond

Abstract

This presentation introduces the preliminary findings of a dissertation project investigating the multifaceted challenges encountered by correctional officers (COs) and the potential for their professional acclimation to the carceral environment, a phenomenon often termed "prisonization" (Clemmer [1940]1958). By critically examining the subtle yet pervasive dynamics of power, control mechanisms, and the perpetuation of punitive practices within US correctional facilities, the study illuminates the inherent difficulties in achieving and sustaining systemic change. A nuanced understanding of the factors fostering negative adaptations is crucial for the design of targeted interventions aimed at cultivating a more rehabilitative and humane correctional environment for both staff and incarcerated individuals. To explore these dynamics in more detail, this presentation focuses on research conducted with officers on LS, leveraging its unique context to observe the influence of Scandinavian-inspired practices on the sensitization of American COs regarding their internalized professional practices and norms. We will discuss how LS and other reform efforts may influence the processes of prisonization and sensitization among COs, tapping into mechanisms such as role redefinition, adaptations to surveillance, alterations in the exercise of discretion, and evolving perspectives on the rights of incarcerated persons.

Author

• Hannah Nario-Lopez, University of the Philippines Diliman / University at Buffalo