Deck 7: Working Inside: The Experience of Correctional Officers

Question 1

Which type of correctional officer authority is defined as "authority that is based on establishing functional relationships with the inmates"?

A) legal
B) moral
C) dynamic
D) custodial

Answer 1

moral

Question 2

Under Section 10 of the Corrections and Conditional Release Act, what are all correctional officers designated as?

A) medical first responders
B) psychotherapists
C) peace officers
D) inmate educators

Answer 2

peace officers

Question 3

Which two terms describe the authority of correctional officers in prisons?

A) legal and moral
B) physical and emotional
C) medical and logistical
D) tactical and physical

Answer 3

legal and moral

Question 4

Which code embraces the unwritten ideals of always assisting another officer who is in real or potential danger, NOT ratting on fellow officers, NOT becoming overly friendly with the inmates, and deferring to the experience of veteran officers?

A) the code of the pen
B) the code of survival
C) the code of the grey wall
D) the normative code of behaviour

Question 5

What is a downside of correctional officers' code of behaviour, which provides a mechanism for coping with the demands of both inmates and the prison administration?

A) the code of silence
B) the code of deception
C) the code of distrust
D) the code of suspicion

Question 6

Which of the following is the main source of job-related stress for many correctional officers?

A) administration
B) colleagues
C) civilian staff
D) civilian population

Question 7

What type of agenda is exemplified when an inmate misses her children, and a correctional officer provides her with the private family visit request forms and ensures they are submitted to the appropriate staff member for approval?

A) a security agenda
B) a dynamic agenda
C) a custodial agenda
D) a correctional agenda

Question 8

A general principle of a correctional officer's view on dealing with prisoners equitably and fairly is "read the book, but don't throw the book." Which of the following best describes this credo?

A) Use discretion.
B) Avoid confrontation at all costs.
C) Take the initiative.
D) Handle prisoners with force.

Question 9

A correctional officer catches an inmate with a small amount of tobacco but decides NOT to write a formal report about the incident. What type of power has the correctional officer exerted?

A) expert power
B) reward power
C) coercive power
D) exchange power

Question 10

In general terms, for what reason are correctional officers permitted to participate in a "use of force" incident?

A) to physically injure an inmate
B) to quell a riotous situation
C) to carry out their duties
D) to prevent a potential fight from happening

Question 11

Which are the most prominent attributes of correctional officers' subculture?

A) solidarity, peer trust, and code of silence
B) isolation, trust no one, and disrespect inmates
C) maintain societal norms, "keep cool," and confide in your partner
D) passively respect your boss, do NOT buck the system, and distrust all inmates

Question 12

Which term best describes situations where correctional officers may violate institutional regulations by behaving inappropriately with inmates, such as using excessive force or having sexual relations with inmates, or more complex situations, such as being caught between the directive of the institution's senior management and "doing the right thing"?

A) custodial inappropriateness
B) ethical dilemmas
C) moral ambiguity
D) ineffective training

Question 13

Which group has the greatest fear of victimization?

A) women correctional officers
B) male correctional officers
C) administrative staff
D) therapeutic staff

Question 14

What is one of the main safety concerns of correctional officers?

A) tripping and falling
B) stabbing or knifing
C) contracting HIV/AIDS, hepatitis, or tuberculosis
D) being sexually assaulted

Question 15

What percentage of provincial corrections officers employed in British Columbia reported having been exposed to blood while at work?

A) 60%
B) 70%
C) 80%
D) 90%

Question 16

The training needs and requirements of federal correctional officers have NOT kept pace with the increased knowledge and skills they require. How are most correctional officers now required to learn?

A) at home on their computer
B) at night classes
C) from social service institutions
D) on the job

Question 17

What bodily system is responsible for shift workers, including correctional officers, being more prone to poor performance, accidents, and health problems because of feelings similar to jet lag, including fatigue, nausea, irritability, and loss of appetite?

A) myocardial infarction
B) circadian rhythm
C) endocrine system
D) biological system interruption

Question 18

Which source of stress is exemplified when a correctional officer experiences sleeping difficulties (e.g., inability to fall asleep, nightmares) after witnessing a riot in which an inmate murdered a correctional officer?

A) the impacts of personal life
B) the impacts of critical incidents
C) the impacts of prison conditions
D) the impacts of inadequate training

Question 19

What stress management technique involves a trained intervener conducting an on-scene debriefing of the correctional officer after a critical incident has occurred and "defusing" by a mental health professional or trained peer, during which the symptoms of stress are identified and strategies are provided for stress management?

A) critical incident stress debriefing
B) methodical stress recall therapy
C) psychoanalytical relaxation
D) cognitive behavioural modification

Question 20

Which statement best reflects the following attitude? "Prison staff learn to apply a thin layer of machismo because of each incident they respond to. It's like a Band-Aid. But this type of Band-Aid doesn't protect the wound from infection or aid in the healing process. Instead it covers and seals in your emotions and your feelings; otherwise, you're weak, a punk, or a sissy."

A) a feeble way of approaching the job
B) NOT something a correctional officer would consider as an action to stress
C) a failure to be tough in the job
D) a barrier to accessing the sources of assistance available

Question 21

What was the finding of research on the experiences of women correctional officers in the United States?

A) Women correctional officers have NO impact on the attitude of the inmates.
B) Women correctional officers have a positive impact on the management of inmates.
C) The research was unsuccessful because so few women correctional officers work in U.S. prisons.
D) Women correctional officers represent an interference with inmate management because of their emotional issues.

Question 22

What year did the Supreme Court of Canada reaffirm the right of women to be employed as correctional officers in male institutions?

A) 1973
B) 1983
C) 1993
D) 2003

Question 23

What have research studies on women correctional officers found?

A) Women correctional officers are NOT assaulted any more frequently than their male counterparts.
B) Women correctional officers are NOT better able to defuse explosive situations than their male counterparts.
C) In contrast to their male counterparts, women correctional officers are more often subject to manipulation by inmates.
D) To prove themselves, women correctional officers tend to be more aggressive with inmates than their male counterparts.

Question 24

A new trainee correctional officer has been taught several approaches to demonstrating power while dealing with inmates and must learn which approach works best for him. Name the various approaches to using power and describe their attributes.

Question 25

Federal correctional officers are now expected to take on multiple tasks in addition to their routine patrols. Name some of the tasks that are included in their duties.