MAY CONTAIN MARKUP

Edited by Jamie Bennett, Ben Crewe and Azrini Wahidin

FROM THE INTRODUCTION: “Why study prison staff? Anyone embarking on a study of prison staff needs to ask themselves why they are doing it, as there are obvious risks in pursuing this course. First, particularly for prison staff researching themselves, there is a danger of partiality or even indulgence. Historically, prison staff have seen themselves as neglected and unappreciated (Thomas 1972; Crawley 2004), and as a result sympathetic students of prison staff may be drawn into taking sides, or becoming partial. Second, the study of prison staff may be considered marginal or a distraction. It could be argued that the primary focus of prison research should be prisoners, since they are the people who are most significantly affected by the prison experience. Third, it could be argued that the study of prison staff acts to reinforce existing power structures either by promoting their interests above those of prisoners, or, when research is critical of prison staff, legitimising the increased centralisation of power and undermining attempts to allow and develop professional judgment and discretion…”

London. Willam Publishing. 2008. 459p.