Debate on Gendered Staffing in Prisons: Legal and Practical Concerns

Introduction

There has been a lot of back and forth over the years about whether or not male prison officers should work in adult female penitentiary facilities and female correction officers should work in male correctional facilities. Considering the legal and ethical implications of a solution is crucial. This paper will delve into the many sides of this debate, from the pros and cons of alternative staffing models to the legal and ethical issues that arise from them.

Main Body

There is a lot of back and forth about whether or not male correction officials should work in prisons for adult female inmates. The notion of equal job opportunities is a major proponent of hiring male prison officers in female correctional facilities. Proponents say that people shouldn’t be discriminated against in the workplace only because of their gender. Officers being barred from entering female-only facilities could be seen as discriminatory (Jewkes et al., 2019). Employment discrimination on the basis of a person’s sex is illegal in the United States under legislation such as Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.

Opponents of this approach, on the other hand, point out that female prisoners are especially susceptible to abuse and trauma. They worry that female detainees’ sensitivity to the presence of male guards could increase their trauma and hinder their recovery if they are housed in a facility with only men (Burdett et al., 2018). Women in the criminal justice system should be under the supervision of female officers whenever possible, as recommended by the United Nations Rules for the Treatment of Women Prisoners and Non-custodial Measures for Women Offenders (the Bangkok Rules).

There are also serious issues to think about when deciding whether or not to employ female correction officials in male-only prisons. Female officers at male facilities have their supporters who say that their gender should not be an issue in the workplace. The same argument might be made for the exclusion of male officers from female institutions. Title VII of the Civil Rights Act, among other laws, protects employees from discrimination based on their gender; therefore, employers are required to provide equal opportunity for female employees (Jewkes et al., 2019). Male inmates can be hostile and violent; hence, some people are worried about the safety of female police working in male-only prisons. Female corrections officials may be at a physical disadvantage when dealing with male inmates, according to some. This causes worry for the safety of female employees and could compromise facility security.

Discrimination in the workplace based on gender is illegal per Title VII of the Civil Rights Act. A breach of this federal statute may have occurred if male correction officers have been denied work in female correctional facilities or female correction officers have been denied employment in male correctional facilities (Boateng & Hsieh, 2019). Gender-sensitive treatment of female convicts is emphasized in the United Nations Bangkok Rules. Legal problems and international condemnation may arise if international standards are violated as a result of the placement of male correction officers in female prisons or female correction officers in male facilities.

The respect and security of the inmates are at the forefront of ethical considerations. Maintaining order and dignity in the correctional setting is of the highest ethical importance. The safety of the convicts should be considered first and foremost when making staffing decisions (Sousa et al., 2019). Ethical considerations include looking out for the health and safety of the men and women who work in corrections. Officers’ safety and effectiveness may be questioned if they must work in environments predominantly occupied by men.

Several suggestions can be made to find a happy medium between legal requirements, ethical considerations, and practical reasons. Each employee’s qualifications, experience, and the facility’s unique requirements should be considered while making staffing decisions (Boateng & Hsieh, 2018). This method will ensure the safety and dignity of all personnel and convicts without resorting to discriminatory blanket bans based on gender.

All staff members, regardless of gender, working in correctional facilities should receive training on how to safely and effectively interact with members of other communities. Trauma-informed care and gender-sensitive training are included in this. Staffing arrangements should be monitored to ensure they adhere to legal obligations and ethical norms using robust supervision procedures (Sousa et al., 2019). Convicts and staff need regular updates on how these changes affect them. Staffing levels should be flexible so that facilities can respond to shifting priorities like safety or inmate requirements.

Conclusion

The question of whether male correction officers belong in adult female detention facilities and female correction officers belong in male correctional facilities is a complex one from a legal, moral, and practical standpoint. Careful consideration and personalized techniques are needed to balance the values of equal employment opportunity, inmate safety, and staff well-being. Correctional facilities can better achieve their aims of rehabilitation and justice by adhering to legal duties, resolving ethical concerns, and establishing sensible staffing procedures.

References

Boateng, F. D., & Hsieh, M. L. (2018). Misconduct within the “Four Walls”: Does organizational justice matter in explaining prison officers’ misconduct and job stress? International Journal of Offender Therapy and Comparative Criminology, 63(2), 289–308. Web.

Boateng, F. D., & Hsieh, M. L. (2019). Explaining job satisfaction and commitment among prison officers: The role of organizational justice. The Prison Journal, 99(2), 172–193. Web.

Burdett, F., Gouliquer, L., & Poulin, C. (2018). Culture of corrections: The experiences of women correctional officers. Feminist Criminology, 13(3), 329–349. Web.

Jewkes, Y., Jordan, M., Wright, S., & Bendelow, G. (2019). Designing ‘healthy’ prisons for women: Incorporating Trauma-Informed Care and Practice (TICP) into prison planning and design. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 16(20). Web.

Sousa, M., Gonçalves, R. A., Cruz, A. R., & de Castro Rodrigues, A. (2019). Prison officers’ attitudes towards self-harm in prisoners. International Journal of Law and Psychiatry, 66. Web.