RT Article
T1 “That’s Not Rehabilitation, That’s Enabling”: Correctional Officer Perspectives on the Prison Needle Exchange Program
JF Criminal justice and behavior
VO 51
IS 1
SP 66
OP 85
A1 Johnston, Matthew S.
A2 Ricciardelli, Rose 1979-
A2 Whitten, Cindy
LA English
YR 2024
UL https://krimdok.uni-tuebingen.de/Record/1872232140
AB Correctional Service Canada implemented Prison Needle Exchange Programs (PNEPs) into federal penitentiaries in 2018 as a harm reduction measure to prevent needle sharing, drug overdose, and limit the spread of infectious disease. However, studies demonstrate how staff resistance hinders the growth of these programs within Canadian prisons. Drawing on interview data produced by 134 federally employed and relatively new correctional officers in Canada, the current study analyzes officers’ levels of support and (more often) opposition to PNEP. Results indicate that, predominantly, staff opposition to PNEP is rooted in safety concerns, a perceived lack of evidence of PNEP’s benefits, and fears the program is not promoting recovery and rehabilitation. By increasing the prevalence of needles in cells, officers report concern of overdose or potential weaponization of needles. Our study informs policy discussions around harm reduction measures in prisons to better promote institutional safety, public health, and nonstigmatized approaches to substance use.
K1 Rehabilitation
K1 Harm Reduction
K1 Recovery
K1 Correctional Officers
K1 prison needle exchange
DO 10.1177/00938548231207065