Corruption and Integrity in Corrections

Someone allows themselves to become corrupt as they make a specific decision to...

do or to not do something

What is internal ethical barometer?

employee's integrity inside themselves

When someone chooses to do something wrong or outside their expected actions of right vs wrong, they generally neutralize their decision by finding a "______________________" for their behavior.

justified reason

malfeasance

when a party causes injury to another party on purpose

Misfeasance

when someone performs an action incorrectly or a legal act performed is an illegal manner

What are the three forms of discretionary misconduct

1. Misfeasance 2. Malfeasance 3. Nonfeasance

What are three reasons that a corrections officer may become corrupt?

1. Sex 2. low self-esteem 3. money

What are three things that are valuable in prison?

1. money 2. cellphones 3. drugs

What are the two aspects that influence the degree of corruption.

1. opportunity 2. incentives to participate (ex: money)

What are "techniques of neutralization"?

A psychological process to explain how individuals "turn off" their inner moral compass when they are about to do something they have previously perceived as being wrong, unjust or illegal.

What leads to corrupt and unethical behavior in corrections?

External or internal pressures

As in any profession, there are people in corrections who shouldn't be working in the field, or who probably shouldn't have been hired at all. What would you call this?

The 10% rule of thumb

denial of victim

The correctional employee believes that the victim deserved whatever has happened to them

Condemnation of the condemners

The correctional employee maintains that those who condemn their actions are doing so purely out of spite or are shifting blame unfairly away from themselves.

Appeal to higher loyalties

The correctional employee proposes that the offense was committed for the greater good with long-term consequences that will justify his or her actions, such as the protection of a colleague.

Denial of injury

The correctional employee will insist that their actions did not cause any harm or damage.

denial of responsibility

The correctional employee will suggest they were the victim of circumstance or forced into situations beyond their control, thereby mitigating personal accountability.

In order to combat corruption, administrators should adopt ________________________ approach

a zero-tolerance

Fear of _______________ is the main reason why correctional employees often do not report staff misconduct.

retaliation

Nonfeasance

the intentional failure to perform a required duty or obligation.