Advancing Corrections Journal - Edition #18 - What Is Working With Women: Correctional Practice in the Post Bangkok Rules Era (ACJ18-A005)

Article 5: Should Men be Working in Prisons for Women? (ACJ18-A005)

Abstract

The staffing ratio among primary workers in Canadian federal correctional services is constructed in discussions of the role of men in federal prisons for women in the Arbour report, responding to purported deplorable actions directed at women prison residence, violating their rights, liberties, and persons. Yet, an empirical understanding of how the staffing ratio came to fruition is missing in national and international contexts. In this article, we strive to understand the current justifications in literature, policy, and legislation that inform the male-to-female ratio of primary workers in women's penitentiaries. Through history, we explore the factors that have informed staff deployment, touch on transperson placement, and explore the "ideal" versus "necessary" male-to-female primary worker ratio of primary workers' sex/gender.

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Authors

Rosemary Ricciardelli

Professor, Research Chair, Memorial University of Newfoundland’s Fisheries and Marine Institute, Canada

Dr. Rosemary Ricciardelli is Professor (PhD) and Research Chair in Safety, Security, and Wellness, at Memorial University of Newfoundland’s Fisheries and Marine Institute. The winner of the 2023 International Corrections and Prison Association’s Research Excellence Award, the 2023 Canadian Sociological Association’s Angus Reid Applied Researcher Award, and the 2024 International Community Justice Association’s President’s Award, Ricciardelli was also elected to the Royal Society of Canada and is a fellow of the Canadian Academy of Health Sciences. Her research centers on evolving understandings of health, gender, and vulnerabilities within different facets of the public safety systems. Her interests lay in the social health, identity construction, and lived experiences of individuals. She leads a longitudinal study on the mental health and well-being experiences of correctional officers employed by Correctional Services Canada. She also works in partnership on a research project with the Uganda Prison Service and contributes to MicroResearch International.

Micheal Taylor

Research Assistant, Memorial University of Newfoundland's Fisheries and Marine Institute, Canada

Micheal P. Taylor is presently qualifying for a PhD titled "Surviving penal work: Responsivity, well-being, and reliability-organizing for resiliency in rehabilitative intervention". His research is informed by transnational experience including comparative penology, obtaining an MA in Criminology (Utrecht University, 2015), and throughout his practice as a probation and parole officer (2016-2022) in Canada. He presently works as a research assistant in the Ocean and Public Safety Laboratory, Memorial University of Newfoundland's Fisheries and Marine Institute, Newfoundland.

Advancing Corrections Journal - Edition #18 - What Is Working With Women: Correctional Practice in the Post Bangkok Rules Era (ACJ18-A005)

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