Staff As a Conduit for Contraband
Developing and Testing Key Assumptions of Professional Boundary Violations in Prison
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 2153787 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Bryce E Peterson (0000-0003-1303-2696, CNA, corresponding author), Kideuk Kim (Urban Institute) |
| Year | 2025 |
| Volume | 46 |
| Issue | 4 |
| Pages | 481-499 |
| Publication date | 2025-04-03 |
| Peer Reviewed | Yes |
| Open Access | No |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | Deviant Behavior (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 0163-9625 • E-ISSN: 1521-0456 |
| Publisher | Informa UK Limited (PUBLISHER • GB) |
| DOI | 10.1080/01639625.2024.2354340 |
| OpenAlex | W4396856480 |
| Language | EN |
| Citations received | 1 |
| References cited | 46 |
The breach of professional boundaries by correctional staff involves various transgressive behaviors and improper relationships with incarcerated individuals. Extant literature has focused on identifying and measuring such behaviors using non-probability samples of correctional officers and formerly incarcerated individuals from single jurisdictions. This research aims to build on this body of work by exploring how key measures related to a specific type boundary violations – staff involvement in introducing contraband – affects the level of contraband in 301 prisons across six states. We investigate three key assumptions about staff motivations for smuggling contraband into their facilities. Some motivations, such as (1) inappropriate relationships with residents and (2) financial gains, tend to be premediated while others, like (3) the lack of accountability and oversight at work, can create opportunistic circumstances that affect staff motivations. The results from negative binomial regression show modest support for each assumption tested in explaining the levels of contraband drugs and cellphones while accounting for relevant prison characteristics. We conclude by delving into the implications of our findings for research, policy, and practice
Boundary (topology · Computer security · Criminology · Electrical conduit · Key (lock · Prison · Computer Science · Criminal Justice and Corrections Analysis · Engineering · Homelessness and Social Issues · Mathematics · Policing Practices and Perceptions · Psychology · Mechanical Engineering
Prison Gangs Behind Bars and Beyond
Staff culture, use of authority and prisoner quality of life in public and private sector prisons
The Keepers
The Sociology of Contraband
The impact of the opioid crisis on U.S. state prison systems
Female Inmates' Perspectives on Sexual Abuse by Correctional Personnel
Competing for Control
The Effect of the Prison Environment upon Inmate Drug Taking Behaviour
Prison Contraband
Moral performance, inhuman and degrading treatment and prison pain
The Everyday Life of Drugs in Prison
Interpersonal Violence and Social Order in Prisons
We keep the nightmares in their cages”
The Society of Captives
Deepening the Guard-Inmate Divide
I Can't Get No Satisfaction! An Examination of Correctional Officers' Perceptions of Staff-Inmate Boundary Violations and Willingness to Follow Institutional Rules within the Texas Department of Criminal Justice
Can I Trust My Co-worker? Examining Correctional Officers' Perceptions of Staff-Inmates Inappropriate Relationships within a Southern Penitentiary System
The Economics of 'Crossing Over
Guards Gone Wild
When Boundaries are Broken
Guards as Embezzlers
Prison Guard Predators
| Unique citing works | 1 |
|---|---|
| Citations per year | 1 |
| Citation span | 2026 - 2026 (1) |
| Citation velocity | current |
| Highly cited | No |
| Citation types | Neutral: 1 |