Experiences and consequences on prison police's well-being

In view of the deep crisis affecting Italian prisons and the urgent need to review\r\nthe sense and meaning of this institution, initiatives promoting innovative custodial\r\nand rehab practices are increasing. Our study refers to one of the most\r\nadvanced Italian prisons as far as prisoners’ rehabilitation and re-education are\r\nconcerned, with activities such as open cells, prisoners’ self-organization of\r\nrecreational–cultural activities, promotion of cooperative working activities both\r\ninside and outside the prison, in order to study if and how this detention culture\r\nchange has caused organizational transformations which affect the professional\r\nwell-being of operators who manage inmates in penal institutions. A qualitative\r\nstudy involving 15 correctional officers working in the three most critical departments\r\nof the building that host the so called “protected” prisoners (long-lasting\r\nsentences, drug addicts, and sex offenders) investigates the subjects’ experiences\r\nand representations of their role and organizational life aspects indicating their\r\nprofessional well-being.