title: Correctional officers' perceptions of a solution-focused training program: potential implications for working with offenders.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Chung Yuan Christian University, Taiwan. jender@cycu.edu.tw
authors.forename: Peter Jen Der
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Pan
authors.forename: Liang-Yu F
authors.initials: LY
authors.lastname: Deng
authors.forename: Shona Shih Hua
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.forename: Karen Jye-Ru
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Jiang
mesh_terms: 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