Why, How, and So What? Unpacking Coworker Relationships in Carceral Settings

Coworker relationships are a central part of carceral staff culture but are poorly understood and conceptualized. This article examines how and why these relationships exist and the outcomes of relationship quality. Through interviews with 183 staff working at eight state prisons and five county jai...

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Bibliographic Details
Authors: Kushmerick-McCune, Bryce (Author) ; Ingel, Sydney (Author) ; Rudes, Danielle S. 1970- (Author) ; Brown, Wyatt (Author) ; Toman, Elisa (Author)
Format: Electronic Article
Language:English
Published: 2025
In: Criminal justice and behavior
Year: 2025, Volume: 52, Issue: 10, Pages: 1447-1466
Online Access: Volltext (lizenzpflichtig)
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Keywords:
Culture
Jail
Prison
carceral settings
coworker relationships
carceral staff
Description
Summary:Coworker relationships are a central part of carceral staff culture but are poorly understood and conceptualized. This article examines how and why these relationships exist and the outcomes of relationship quality. Through interviews with 183 staff working at eight state prisons and five county jails across eight U.S. states, we find that staff rely on coworkers for security, practical, and social support. Demographic, personality, and organizational factors influence these relationships, which in turn affect job stress, satisfaction, and turnover intention. Understanding coworker relationships is crucial for improving theory, research, and practice. By exploring these dynamics, we fill a gap in knowledge and aim to inspire researchers to consider the complexities of these relationships in their own work.
ISSN:1552-3594
DOI:10.1177/00938548251350110