Corrections_Today_November_December_2023_Vol.85_No.6

Psychological dangers of interpersonal relationships with inmates As correctional workers ourselves, we presume most of our colleagues have felt uncomfortable talking to an inmate . Conversely, we also presume our peers have felt good about themselves during and after talking with an inmate . When analyzed at a deeper level, the latter interaction may have boosted our mood, reinforced our unresolved need to feel wanted and ultimately made us feel good about ourselves (not to be confused with the satisfaction of a job well done). In our experience, uncomfortable interac tions with inmates are easier to address as it may imply safety and security concerns for which there are policies and procedures to provide guidance. This is contrary to feeling good about ourselves when talking to an inmate because on a surface level things are fine and we are less likely to discuss the matter with peers. Confronted with the latter situation an honest question to ask is do we have the wherewithal to acknowledge our interpersonal interactions make us feel good about ourselves? We all know or should know situations such is these are fraught with danger and can lead to dire consequences (i.e. being manipu lated) if left unresolved.

Heavy screening is the first step towards employ ment for correctional workers. Candidates undergo drug testing, credit assessments, interviews by background investigators, as well as collateral interviews with various references. Once hired there are annual refresher train ings, recommended readings, post orders and mentorship. Policy requirements also serve as a set of pre-determined rules and procedures to protect against misconduct. Yet despite these safeguards, inmates successfully prey on correctional workers, using them to promote their crimi nogenic ideals. Correctional workers are taught — and quickly learn that inmates are skilled in using maladaptive means to meet their needs. As Elliot & Vordeyen (2002) point out, “…inmate deception is an inevitable, predictable, and pervasive part of prison life (p. 13).” They may lie despite evidence to the contrary, oftentimes “split” cor rectional workers and utilize intimidation to inflict fear. At times we are at risk for exploitation simply because we possess certain personality traits which clinicians naturally embody, such as compassion and empathy. Unfortunately, these same traits may also become our vulnerabilities. Although there are numerous works such as Allen and Bosta’s Games Criminals Play and Cornelius’s The Art of the Con: Avoiding Offender Manipulation , which highlight the pitfalls of offender manipulation, this article tackles the problem from a Freudian perspective, which is surely less common yet employable on a day to-day basis. Sigmond Freud has been one of the most prominent names in psychiatry and psychology since the early 20 th century. He introduced the concept of transference , which evolved since his time and colloquially means a reaction obtained or felt from an interaction with someone — akin to a sixth sense. Since then, various clinicians expounded on this idea and coined yet another term, countertransfer ence . Typically, mental health professionals conceptualize countertransference as their own feelings, attitudes and desires towards a patient, which if properly employed can theoretically enhance the therapeutic interaction. This can be accomplished by addressing it with the patient and through consulting with peers. We propose that our read ers utilize their own countertransference responses within the correctional environment and employ it when interact ing with inmates.

If an inmate makes us feel good and we allow it to keep happening this is a breakdown of professionalism and can have calamitous consequences.

In resolving this type of situation, never dismiss the countertransference without thoroughly addressing it! If an inmate makes us feel good and we allow it to keep happening this is a breakdown of professionalism and can have calamitous consequences. We provide professional services according to our policies. Inmates never provide

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