Correctional officers' perceptions of a solution-focused training program: potential implications for working with offenders.
The purpose of this exploratory study was to explore correctional officers' perceptions and experiences during a solution-focused training program and to initiate development of a modified pattern for correctional officers to use in jails. The study uses grounded theory procedures combined with a follow-up survey. The findings identified six emergent themes: obstacles to doing counseling work in prisons, offenders' amenability to change, correctional officers' self-image, advantages of a solution-focused approach (SFA), potential advantages of applying SFA to offenders, and the need for the consolidation of learning and transformation. Participants perceived the use of solution-focused techniques as appropriate, important, functional, and of only moderate difficulty in interacting with offenders. Finally, a modified pattern was developed for officers to use when working with offenders in jails. Suggestions and recommendations are made for correctional interventions and future studies.
Pan
Peter Jen Der
PJ
Chung Yuan Christian University, Taiwan. jender@cycu.edu.tw
Deng
Liang-Yu F
LY
Chang
Shona Shih Hua
SS
Jiang
Karen Jye-Ru
KJ
D000328:Adult; D003376:Counseling / Q000193:education*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007318:Inservice Training; D008297:Male; D016495:Police; D011329:Prisoners; D011330:Prisons; D012380:Role; D012649:Self Concept; D013624:Taiwan