Ethics in a Mountain State County Jail

• Author: Peter A. Collins,Marianne Hudson,Craig Hemmens,Katelyn Brady,Mary K. Stohr,Brian Iannacchione,Jamie Thayer
• Published date: 01 August 2015
• Date: 01 August 2015
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.1177/0887403414526229
• Subject Matter: Articles

Criminal Justice Policy Review

2015, Vol. 26(6) 555 –574

© 2014 SAGE Publications

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DOI: 10.1177/0887403414526229

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Article

Ethics in a Mountain State

County Jail

Brian Iannacchione1, Peter A. Collins2, Marianne Hudson3,

Mary K. Stohr4, Craig Hemmens4, Jamie Thayer5,

and Katelyn Brady5

Abstract

This research was conducted to identify and explain factors that shape staff and inmate

perceptions of ethical behavior within a correctional setting. Prior research has found

that staff do perceive high levels of deviance among their peers, but this varies by

both the facility (jails were perceived as more unethical) and staff characteristics,

with female and older staff perceiving their workplace as more ethical. The current

research attempts to expand this line of study by surveying both inmates and staff on

their perceptions of staff ethics within a jail in a mountain state jail. This research first

examines what the general perceptions are among these two populations in regard

to staff ethics. Second, it answers the question of whether perceived differences exist

and how they vary between staff and inmates in regard to staff ethical behavior.

Keywords

ethics, jail, inmates, staff

Introduction

This research was conducted to further identify and explain factors that shape staff

and inmate perceptions of ethical behavior within a correctional setting. Prior research

has found that staff do perceive high levels of deviance among their peers (Worley &

Worley, 2011), but this varies by both the facility (jails were perceived as more

1University of Northern Colorado, Greeley, USA

2Seattle University, WA, USA

3Boise State University, ID, USA

4Washington State University, Pullman, USA

5Missouri State University, Springfield, USA

Corresponding Author:

Craig Hemmens, Department of Criminal Justice and Criminology, Washington State University,

P.O. Box 644872, Pullman, WA 99164-4872, USA.

Email: craig.hemmens@wsu.edu

526229CJPXXX10.1177/0887403414526229Criminal Justice Policy ReviewIannacchione et al.

research-article2014

556 Criminal Justice Policy Review 26(6)

unethical), and staff characteristics, with female and older staff perceiving their

workplace as more ethical (Stohr, Hemmens, Kifer, & Schoeler, 2000). In regard to

inmates, Blackburn, Fowler, Mullings, and Marquart (2011) found that inmates who

were young, Hispanic, and high school graduates were more supportive of deviance

among staff than their counterparts.

The current research attempts to expand this line of study by surveying both inmates

and staff on their perceptions of staff ethics within a jail in a Northwest County. This

research first examines what the general perceptions are among these two populations

in regard to staff ethics. Second, it offers a preliminary examination of whether per-

ceived differences exist and how they vary between staff and inmates in regard to staff

ethical behavior. Future research should expand on this line of research.

Ethical Lapses in Corrections

There is ample evidence that in some criminal justice workplaces ethical abuse is ram-

pant (Amnesty International, 2004; Beck, Harrison, & Guerino, 2010; Bennett & Hess,

2001; Braswell, McCarthy, & McCarthy, 2012; Caldero & Crank, 2011; Courtless,

1998; Feeley, 1983; Friedrichs, 2012; Gaines & Worrall, 2012; Gray, 2002; Hess,

Orthmann, LaDue, & Bennett, 2012; Holten & Lamar, 1991; Pollock, 2004; Silverman,

2001; Thomas, 1996; Welch, 2011). Instances of abuse such as those described by

Amnesty International (2004) and by Bureau of Justice Statistics researchers Beck and

Johnson (2012) and Thomas (1996) of sexual misconduct in America’s prisons and

jails further serve to remind us that vigilance is needed to ensure that criminal justice

agencies remain just and that their actors and clients remain safe.

Before we can discuss ethical abuses or lapses in corrections, we should define

what “ethics” is. As defined by Stohr and Collins (2013),

ethics is the study of what is right and wrong in the professional sphere . . . ethical

behavior is action which is regarded as “right” in accordance with the ethical codes, rules

and procedures, and statutes that govern the professional sphere. (p. 54)

If we want to know whether ethical abuse is occurring in correctional settings, the

role of research is critical. If criminal justice managers are not aware of how much

ethical abuse is occurring in the workplace they will not have the opportunity to

address it with organizational remedies, such as thorough training or employee devel-

opment (e.g., rewarding ethical behavior as much or more than punishing unethical

behavior).

Measuring Ethical Abuse in Corrections: Queries of Staff

and Inmates

Heuristic Problems

One means of investigating ethical abuse is to note the reports of violation of applicable

organizational rules and regulations. This, however, is only a crude methodology for