The Floating Signifier of ‘Safety’: correctional Officer Perspectives on COVID-19 Restrictions, Legitimacy and Prison Order
The COVID-19 pandemic continues to affect prisons internationally. Existing research focuses on infection data, meaning we do not fully understand how COVID-19 shapes frontline prison dynamics. We draw on qualitative interviews with 21 Canadian federal correctional officers, exploring how the pandem...
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| Tipo de documento: | Electrónico Artículo |
| Lenguaje: | Inglés |
| Publicado: |
2023
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| En: |
The British journal of criminology
Año: 2023, Volumen: 63, Número: 5, Páginas: 1237-1254 |
| Acceso en línea: |
Volltext (lizenzpflichtig) Volltext (lizenzpflichtig) |
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| Verificar disponibilidad: | HBZ Gateway |
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| Sumario: | The COVID-19 pandemic continues to affect prisons internationally. Existing research focuses on infection data, meaning we do not fully understand how COVID-19 shapes frontline prison dynamics. We draw on qualitative interviews with 21 Canadian federal correctional officers, exploring how the pandemic impacted prison management. Officers suggested inconsistent messaging around COVID-19 protocols reduced institutional and officers’ self-legitimacy, fracturing trust relationships with incarcerated people. Furthermore, officers suggest that personal protective equipment such as gowns and face shields took on multiple meanings. We use Lévi-Strauss’ floating signifier concept to analyse how individual definitions of ‘safety’ informed day-to-day prison routines. We conclude by arguing that legitimacy deficits and contested definitions of ‘safety’ will continue to create uncertainty, impacting prison operations going forward. |
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| Notas: | Literaturverzeichnis: Seite 1252-1254 |
| ISSN: | 1464-3529 |
| DOI: | 10.1093/bjc/azac088 |