Self-Defense for the Modern Corrections Officer:
Preemptive Psychology
Dan Horne
To establish adequate safeguards against inmate assault, the corrections officer must look beyond traditional methods of self-defense. They must expand upon ancient methods of physical combat and adapt them to an institutional environment. For the modern corrections officer, creating a more efficient means of self-defense begins by capitalizing on their one true asset, which is time.
Unlike their road counterparts, who typically spend only a few minutes with an arrestee, the corrections officer may be associated with that same person for months or even years once they have been incarcerated. From the perspective of officer safety, this expanded period of time allows the corrections officer to engage in a much more protracted means of self-defense. It gives the officer an opportunity to create a psychological barrier against inmate assault by suppressing an inmate’s violent tendencies.
One way to suppress an inmate’s violent tendencies is through a practice that can be called preemptive psychology. This method of self-defense uses proven psychological techniques to alter an inmate’s behavior. When consistently applied, these methods have a long-term effect on the cognitive functions of an inmate. What distinguishes preemptive psychology from other forms of self-defense is its strategic application. Instead of being used on a specific inmate during an attack, it is applied to all inmates, all the time. The longer this method is applied to an inmate population, the more effective it tends to be.
Preemptive psychology accomplishes a reduction in violent behavior by establishing an active threshold in the mind of a potentially violent person. This mental barrier creates a reluctance in the inmate to act on violent ideations. The process can best be described as psychologically disarming a potential assailant. But to attain this type of protection, the officer must learn some basic principles of psychology and how to apply them to an inmate population.
Humanization:
There are several factors that have the potential to inhibit violent behavior by inmates. One overarching principle that contributes to that end is a process known as humanization. When an inmate either consciously or subconsciously identifies an officer as being part of a group of people that they themselves belong to, even a group that is not clearly defined, the inmate begins to humanize them. They relate to that officer as a fellow human being who is deserving of just treatment1.
Moral Authority:
Moral authority is the recognition of a person’s leadership influence based on who they are, not the position they hold. It is recognition by the inmate population that, regardless of the officer’s legal authority as a law enforcement officer, they are, by way of their conduct, deserving of a leadership role over them. From the perspective of preemptive psychology, the establishment of moral authority enables the officer to exercise control over the inmate population without causing undue resentment or risk to their personal safety.
Respect:
In the often-harsh confines of an institution, an inmate’s daily existence is dominated by a social hierarchy among the population. Based on a set of unwritten rules, most inmates will struggle to attain a level of status and recognition among their peers. Their position within the general population is mainly determined by the level of respect they have attained. Some inmates are willing to die in the name of this principle. For those incarcerated over a lengthy period of time, respect is a currency that is often more valuable than money.
It is because of its value within the inmate population that respect can be used to the officer’s advantage. Once an officer has gained the respect of inmates, they have achieved one aspect of Preemptive psychology. Respect can be a formidable defensive weapon. Even amidst confrontation, most human beings find it difficult to physically harm any person whom they hold in high esteem. Yet, gaining inmate respect cannot be acquired through special favors or developing friendships
In most cases, respect is developed over time. It is earned by consistently demonstrating professionalism, courage, and a commitment to integrity. There are, however, rules of psychology that can help the officer to gain respect. These are basic guidelines that can be used while interacting with inmates on a personal level2.
1. Live by the golden rule; To gain respect, an officer must first show respect.
2. Use body language; When speaking with inmates, act as though you are confident. e.g., positive posture. Stand straight, look people in the eye, and speak forcefully (but not overwhelmingly so)
3. Speak positively; In addition to having strong body language, your words are also important. Learn to speak positively and authoritatively. Don’t be boastful, but don’t demean yourself either. Leave the impression that you’re intelligent, well-spoken and confident.
4. Practice calm assertiveness. Think about what you want to say and how you can speak with confidence.
5. Stand up for yourself. If an inmate is disrespectful to you, how do you respond? Do you confront the problem, or do you avoid it? Standing up to disrespect, without being vindictive, will gain respect from the majority of the inmate population.
Integrity:
When consistently demonstrated, integrity is an attribute that nearly everyone looks up to. Even most people who lack integrity feel as though they can relate to the person with strong moral values. To the typical inmate, integrity is more than just an admirable quality; it is a form of humanization. It is a personal standard that, in some fashion, they try to see in themselves. When inmates view an officer as having integrity, which is a trait they themselves aspire to, it helps them to identify with that officer as a human being—someone they can relate to on a personal level. This identification is an important aspect of preemptive psychology.
To establish a reputation for integrity, an officer must first be aware of the environment in which they work. It is during the course of their duties that they are constantly being scrutinized by the inmate population. If inmates judge an officer as having integrity, it is most often because that officer has never been caught lying to them. Dishonesty is counterproductive. It can cause the officer to lose the respect and cooperation of the very inmates that they are attempting to supervise.
As an example of the value of integrity, an officer agrees to check on an inmate’s commissary account but later becomes busy and forgets to follow up on the request. This puts the officer in an awkward position when the inmate inevitably asks the question again. Faced with having to admit the error, the officer lies and says that the computer system was down. This type of response will likely be costly for the officer, since the inmate will tend to find out the truth from a different source.
Based on a single lapse in judgment, that officer’s misleading statement will gain them a reputation for being a liar. From an inmate’s point of view, lying is an indication that the officer has no respect for them. Compounding the insult, by not later acknowledging the error, the officer then seems to believe that inmates are not intelligent enough to figure out the deception. From the perspective of self-defense, this course of action will only be detrimental to the officer’s position. Instead of strengthening the mental threshold that protects them from inmate violence, this lack of integrity only breeds animosity.
The truth, in many cases, can be uncomfortable. When security is at stake, telling a lie can, on very rare occasions, actually be the appropriate course of action. But for the officer to establish a reputation for integrity, telling inmates the truth should be a major objective. It is important for the officer to always come across as being genuine. Inmates, as with people in general, tend to respond well to bad news when it is expressed to them in sincere, unadulterated language. If an officer forgets to follow up on a commissary request, their response to the inmate should be “I forgot, but I will do my best to find out by the end of the shift.” At that point, the inmate will undoubtedly be disappointed. But the officer will gain a great deal of respect when they have the courage to tell the unvarnished truth.
Honesty is an obvious method of demonstrating integrity. Yet there are other moral principles that are equally important to uphold. To this end, an officer should never make a promise that they cannot keep. Also, they should never threaten an inmate with discipline and not follow through. It is an approach that may sound difficult to accept. On the face of it, disciplining an inmate to gain their respect seems counterintuitive. No inmate likes to be punished. Yet when it is understood that the officer is acting not out of malice but out of necessity, their actions tend to be seen as a sign of strength. It is the officer’s steadfastness and moral courage that will likely gain respect in the long term.
Consistency:
Consistency is an attribute that many officers fail to recognize. Most inmates, however, rate this aspect of professionalism very highly. For them, it can be very stressful to be at the mercy of an officer’s authority. When an officer’s mood affects their treatment of the inmates, it causes an uncertain and stressful atmosphere. This is why inmates appreciate being supervised by an officer who is mature and even-tempered. Most inmates will then express their appreciation through their behavior. Even the most jaded inmates, who normally avoid interactions with the staff, are positively affected by uniform treatment.
Demeanor:
An important aspect of preemptive psychology is to be relatable to inmates as a human being. This is accomplished in large part by an officer’s demeanor. They should be professional, yet cordial. While interacting with the inmate population, it is generally beneficial for the officer to express their personality. They should never disclose their personal information. But if they can talk about a firsthand experience that an inmate can relate to, the inmate will likely remember their encounter. These personal interactions will, in most cases, enable the inmate to think of the officer as a person, and not just an employee. It is a common example of humanization.
One way for an officer to express their personality is through humor. When an officer can laugh with an inmate or make benign jokes about a shared experience, they are likely to be remembered in a positive light. Humor can do much to humanize an officer’s image. When timed well, an amusing comment can lighten the mood of an otherwise tense situation. Yet if not used appropriately, humor can actually do more harm than good. The officer should apply humor sparingly. They should avoid making fun of an inmate’s circumstances, as this can make the officer seem callous. Social and political issues can also be sensitive subjects.
Empathy:
There are several aspects to preemptive psychology. When combined, these many facets allow the officer to create a mental barrier against violent behavior. Yet of the many abilities required for nonphysical self-defense, empathy is potentially the most valuable. It is often confused with sympathy, which means to feel sorrow or pity for an inmate’s circumstances. Empathy, on the other hand, is the ability to view given circumstances through an inmate’s perspective. It gives the officer an understanding of an inmate’s state of mind.
If an officer can envision themself in an inmate’s shoes, and thus experience their emotions, they are more able to see the world from the inmate’s point of view. It is this deeper understanding of an inmate’s perspective that enables the officer to communicate with them on an emotional level. This is a key to gaining inmate compliance without the need for force. As with other aspects of self-defense, empathy is a skill that can be acquired by any officer. Yet the likely benefits of such a skill will vary substantially depending on the officer’s natural abilities. This is because the process of empathizing is enhanced through imagination. The better the officer’s imagination, the more realistically they can empathize.
As an example of empathy, an officer enters an inmate’s cell to conduct a shakedown. As they look up toward the courtyard window, they notice a drawing of a middle-aged woman taped up on the wall. The officer could tell by the detail drawn into the woman’s face and hair that the image had a great deal of sentimental value to the inmate.
Reflecting on their own limited experience with the art form, the officer could imagine the sense of pride the inmate must have felt when they displayed their sketch so prominently for everyone to see. Yet according to the institution’s policy, inmates were not allowed to cover their cell walls with pictures or artwork. The officer knew that the sketch had to be removed from its present position. So, with the item’s obvious sentimental value in mind, they used some toilet paper to wipe splashes of water off the top of the inmate’s sink. Then, after removing the drawing from its place on the wall, they positioned it on top of the sink, leaning it against the rear wall.
Continuing the shakedown of the inmate’s cell, the officer confiscated extra toilet paper rolls, some excess mail, and a paperclip, which was hidden between the pages of a magazine. Then, once the search was complete, the officer made a brief effort to return the cell to the condition they had found it before exiting the area.
Unknown to the inmate housed in that cell, the respectful gesture displayed by the officer searching their room was not an attempt to become friends with them. They were, in fact, showing the same consideration for every inmate. Instead, they were simply applying one of the basic principles of preemptive psychology. The officer was conducting a search of the inmate’s cell in the most efficient means possible, using empathy as a strategic tool for inmate management. After realizing the officer had recognized the sentimental value of their drawing, the inmate would, in most cases, identify with them on a human level. When successful, this process of humanization is often the most effective means of self-defense for the officer.
Conclusion
Over the course of an officer’s career, there will at times be encounters with inmates that will ultimately become violent. Due to mental illness, personality disorders, or extenuating circumstances, some confrontations can only be resolved through the use of force. Yet the majority of these incidents can be successfully resolved without a violent outcome. Through the application of preemptive psychology, combined with other aspects of strategic and tactical self-defense, cooperation can be gained from potentially violent inmates. It is through this cooperation that the officer can defend themself from the vast majority of inmate assaults–in effect, defeating an inmate assault, long before it can occur. This fundamentally proactive approach toward self-defense can create a more efficient means of inmate management.
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Dan Horne is a retired corrections officer with 29 years of experience working in Collier County, Florida. As a lifelong inventor, he focused his career on developing new technologies and concepts for corrections. Some of his ideas included supply management devices, a method for behavioral forecasting, and an adaptive waste receptacle, which he built a company around, called Waste-eze LLC. For more information, he can be reached at horneng@aol.com
Resources
Encouraging the Humanization of Others (pp. 5–6). (n.d.). Center for Media Engagement.
International Organization for Migration. (n.d.). Www.iom.int. http:// www.iom.int/