Correctional officers' perceptions of a solution-focused training program: potential implications for working with...

Area of Science:

• Criminal Justice
• Psychology
• Social Work

Background:

• Correctional officers face unique challenges in therapeutic roles.
• Existing training may not fully address the complexities of inmate interaction.
• Solution-focused approaches offer potential benefits in corrections.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore correctional officers' perceptions of a solution-focused training program.
• To assess the feasibility and effectiveness of solution-focused approaches in correctional settings.
• To develop a modified solution-focused pattern for jail-based interventions.

Main Methods:

• Grounded theory procedures were employed for in-depth exploration.
• A follow-up survey was utilized to gather quantitative data.
• Qualitative analysis identified emergent themes from officer experiences.

Main Results:

• Six key themes emerged: obstacles, offender change, officer self-image, SFA advantages, offender benefits, and learning consolidation.
• Officers viewed solution-focused techniques as appropriate, important, and functional.
• Moderate difficulty was reported in applying techniques with offenders.

Conclusions:

• Solution-focused training is perceived positively by correctional officers.
• A modified solution-focused approach pattern can be effectively applied in jails.
• Recommendations are provided for correctional interventions and future research.