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.