Prison Officer

The role of the prison officer is probably the most important one in a prison. But the precise nature of that role and, more importantly, how it is performed have not been clearly understood. This book shows that the prison officerâs role is not simple, cannot be taken for granted and involves more than just common sense. That it is has been regarded in these terms is because the work of the prison officer is, even within the prison, âlow visibilityâ work, the complexities of which are not easily observed and thus not readily appreciated. It discusses how officers may under-use their power more often (and to better effect) than they over use it. It shows how in performing their important peacekeeping role, which they do principally through talk, officers exercise an important discretion, not just a blunt form of coercive power. It shows how being a good prison officer involves being good at not using force but still getting things done.