Week 3_DQ_1

Prior to beginning work on this discussion read Chapters 1, 2, 3, and 9 in your textbook, theSever (2008) and Courtemanche (2011)articles. Research a minimum of two additional scholarly and/or professional sources on the culture of corrections in your state. (Access theMSCJ Professional Sources guide for assistance with finding appropriate resources.)

As outlined in the readings, the institutional culture of policing impacts decision making. There even exists a subculture within policing organizations that can also impact decisions. This subculture results from the culture that develops among coworkers from working so closely and having such a huge responsibility to each other as corrections personnel. The subculture is further influenced by leadership decisions within the corrections organization.

Oftentimes corrections officers feel as though their hands are tied in the ways in which they can intervene in given situations. Corrections officers feel that policies and legal mandates interfere with their ability to maintain a safe environment. They also feel that both action and inaction may equally lead to risks of litigation against them. This leads to officers finding innovative methods for circumventing policies that can lead to institutional behaviors that do not match policies and mandates.

Drawing on your current professional expertise and utilizing the required and researched sources, create an initial post in which you analyze institutional behavior in your state corrections system.

• Identify your state and explain the general culture of the institutions within it.
• Describe how professionalism can be tied directly to the institutional culture and organizational subculture.
• Analyze the recommendations made for institutional culture changes within the readings and discuss how these changes could be implemented in your state.