The purpose of this study is to examine whether female correctional officers’ role can be expanded by reviewing other countries’ experience. Currently, in Korea, due to the rule of the ban on cross-gender supervision on inmates, female correctional of ...
The purpose of this study is to examine whether female correctional officers’ role can be expanded by reviewing other countries’ experience. Currently, in Korea, due to the rule of the ban on cross-gender supervision on inmates, female correctional officers have limited job positions, which is the violation of gender equality in occupation. Including U.S.,A., Canada, Australia, U.K., Newzealand, Japan, and Taiwan, many countries adopt cross-gender supervision in correctional facility. This is mainly due to the gender equality principle in occupation. Especially, in the USA, through the several law suits, female correctional officers can work in contact position of male prisons. The main objections to the female correctional officers in male prisons were that women cannot handle male prisoners and women were subject to be sexually attacked. According to the research on female correctional officers, these concerns were not supported. On the contrary, women officers have positive effect on male inmates and prison environment. Armed with communication skills and optimistic attitudes, female correctional officers help inmates to prepare future and restore relationship with others. However, as expected, a lot of female officers have been the victims of sexual harrassment of colleague male correctional officers as well as inmates. Through several law suits, Department of Correction were asked to develop effective strategies aimed at combat sexual harrassment of inmates and correctional officers. Based on research findings, the current study reach a conclusion that characteristics of female correctional officers can be used to achieve the goal of correction, which focuses on prisoner rehabilitation and prisoner’ successful reintegraion into society. Four policy implications for Korean female correctional officers are provided. First, after test trial, female officers need to be assigned to male prisons. Second, perception on women correctional officers and gender equality awareness education need to be developed and implemented. Third, strict “Code of Conduct” to prevent sexual harrassment of inmates and correctional officers in prison setting should be developed. Fourth, gender-specific training program for male correctional officers as well as female correctional officers to effectively carry on gender-cross supervision of inmates.