Quality of relationships, interactions with leadership, and the use of force in the prison context. Findings from two surveys on prison officers.

Abstract

The article presents the results of two surveys conducted in correctional facilities in Lombardy, Piedmont, Liguria, and Aosta Valley, aimed at exploring the perspectives of prison officers on key aspects of their work. Using a specifically designed questionnaire based on research from other countries, the opinions of 1,350 officers were collected and analyzed for the first time in Italy. The aim was to investigate the extent to which perceived institutional delegitimization and poor quality of the relationships within correctional facilities may influence the officers’ readiness to use force, as suggested by the existing literature.

This research contributes to the broader field of prison studies by providing valuable data and insights to address the critical aspects of prison governance from the perspective of those who work there on a daily basis.