Can I laugh with inmates? Prison officers begin to take off their administrative “armor”

More than a year has passed since the introduction of custodial sentences, which shift the emphasis from ``punishment'' to ``recovery'' for those who commit crimes. Although the reforms aim to rehabilitate prisoners and reintegrate them into society, prison officers are also being forced to change.

While prison officers continue to strive to maintain strict discipline and order, they are now also required to provide support and care for inmates. What kind of conflicts are there in the field? A current prison officer responded to an interview with Asahi Shimbun.

One day at Sapporo Prison. A male inmate, a correctional officer, and a social worker were seated together.

"How are you feeling today? Please tell each person one by one." A 42-year-old male prison guard felt strong resistance to such a normal suggestion from the facilitator. “I don’t want to answer,” I thought.

This is because there were inmates in the same space.

This is a scene from a ``personnel research'' program that began in 2022 at Sapporo Prison.

Personnel research refers to an effort to consider one's own troubles and difficulties in life as a ``research subject'' and explore ways to deal with them while talking with others.

A team of civilian staff and correctional officers is assembled for one inmate. Once a month, inmates are asked to talk about their lives so far, and the participants engage in dialogue based on their stories.

Why “private conversation with inmates” is not good