Perceptions of self-legitimacy and audience legitimacy among prison officers in Ghana

Dados Bibliográficos

ID6193368
AutoresThomas D Akoensi (0000-0002-5072-2576, Medway School of Pharmacy, autor correspondente)
Ano2016
Volume40
Fascículo3
Páginas245-261
Data de publicação2016-07-02
Peer ReviewedSim
Open AccessSim
TipoARTICLE
PeriódicoInternational Journal of Comparative and Applied Criminal Justice (JOURNAL)
Identificadores do periódicoISSN: 0192-4036 • E-ISSN: 2157-6475
EditoraInforma UK Limited (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1080/01924036.2016.1165712
OpenAlexW2322486167
IdiomaEN
Citações recebidas12
Referências citadas40

Criminological research on legitimacy has focused almost exclusively on citizens’ normative assessment of legal authorities. However, this line of research neglects power-holders’ own assessment of their legitimacy or self-confidence in their moral validity of their claims to power. This paper examines the conditions on which prison officers as power-holders base their legitimacy claims. Data from semi-structured interviews and observation of prison officers in Ghana shows that prison officers in Ghana exude high power-holder legitimacy underpinned by favourable assessment of their “self-” and “perceived audience” legitimacy in the eyes of prisoners. While officers’ self-legitimacy was underpinned in their legal status (e.g., legality) and the uniforms (e.g., state insignia), perceived legitimacy was anchored in officers’ maintenance of authority via self-discipline, good and close officer–prisoner relationships, respect for prisoners as humans, and professional competence or making a difference in the lives of prisoners

Criminology · Legitimacy · Normative · Officer · Perception · Political science · Politics · Principle of legality · Prison · Sociology · Crime Patterns and Interventions · Criminal Justice and Corrections Analysis · Law · Policing Practices and Perceptions · Psychology · Social Psychology