Professional Documents
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Cite as : Stress And Burnoutof Working In A Prison Environmentby Prison Wardens In
Nigeria;Vol.2|Issue 02|Pg:1115-1120
2015
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Cite as : Stress And Burnoutof Working In A Prison Environmentby Prison Wardens In
Nigeria;Vol.2|Issue 02|Pg:1115-1120
2015
the British did not make provision for the general workers feelings of job-related conflicts,
reformation of prisoners nor did it create an fear, frustration, concerns, apprehensions, and
avenue for systematic penal policy from which sufferings (Griffin, 2006; Lambert et al., 2009).
direction could be sought for penal Even though some studies have described prison
administration (Para, 3). Instead, prisoners were job stress and burnout as the same, this is not
utilized for public works at the discretion of the correct in the sense that while stress lead to
British colonial masters and to intimidate, as well negative consequences such as mental and
physical health problems, frustrations and
as punish those opposed to British colonial rule.
conflicts within and outside work environment as
Today, the Nigeria Prison Service is an institution noted by (Whitehead & Lindquist, 1986), burnout
on the other hand takes time to develop because it
in progress in that it has grown from being a
is the end product of prolonged exposure to job
poorly trained organization without a reform stress. According to Whitehead and Lindquist
policy under the British overlord to become an (1986), job stress is one of the major causes of
envy of the West Africa sub-region with well burnout. Burnout, as also postulated by (Hogan et
trained staff and massive manpower development. al, 2006) is harmful both to prison staffs, families,
Moreover, modern day Nigeria prisons boost of friends, co-workers, inmates, as well as to the
organization.
professionals such as nurses, doctors, social
workers, psychologists, criminologists, and well- Several studies have found that a huge increase
educated staff among its employees. Besides, has occurred in prison population worldwide,
massive transformation has taken place since 1980 including Nigeria, and the increase in prison
inmates has created job stress and burnout for
from its three Directorates to six Directorates in
most prison staff (Omorotionwman, 2005; Bailey,
1993. Following the reorganization and removal 2006, Perrone, 2007). In a study carried out by
of the Nigeria prison Service from the Civil Schaufeli and Peeters (2000) on prison staff stress
Service in 1992, it now has a command structure and burnout, the results revealed that prison
with zonal commands in all the 36 states of the staff/correctional officers face significant
federation including Abuja. problems with occupational stress and job
burnout. According to Omorotionwman (2005),
Stress and Burnout among Prison Staff in prisons in Nigeria are in a sordid state in that the
Nigeria: Literature Review conditions under which inmates live are
lamentable, unfriendly, and harsh, hence they do
Stress is a silent killer among prison workers not meet international standards for prisoners
world over, including Nigeria. As noted by the world-over. Nigeria prisons are characterized by
United States Department of Health and Human overcrowding and shortage of facilities such as
Service (2010), stress has the capability to keep recreational facilities and vocational training
the individual correction officers awake at night, centers.
make them display their aggression on their
spouses and children, as well as make the job look Organizational structure has also been linked to
frightening. Stress come with a negative stimulus prison staff job stress (Lambert et al, 2006;
known as stressors including frustration, conflicts, Dowden & Tellier, 2004). Organizational
unclear directions, conflicting roles, and being structure applies to the whole organization, and as
asked to do too many tasks and not being provided such cut across the prison staff work environment.
with enough resources, and pressures (Butcher, Organizational structures impact every work
Mineka & Hooley, 2007, p. 145; Griffin, 2006; environment. Lincoln and Kelleberg (1990) posit
Lambert, Hogan, & Tucker, 2009). The response that every organization uses several dimensions of
of individuals to stressors has been described as structure to control, influence, and manage
job stress. Additionally, job stress also involves a employees. Job-related stress and burnout is
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Cite as : Stress And Burnoutof Working In A Prison Environmentby Prison Wardens In
Nigeria;Vol.2|Issue 02|Pg:1115-1120
2015
rampant and severe among prison staff (Lambert offended inmates, which leaves them to some
et al, 2006). An indispensable source of stress and degree of job pressure. In this regard, Silberman
burnout among prison staff in Nigeria, as well as (2007) recommends that proper training and
in other parts of the world is supervising people organizational support can provide correctional
who do not want to be confined and, as a result, staff with the right tools they need to
employ all manner of tricks and manipulations to appropriately deal with the various problems,
make their conditions of confinement as situations, and issues they come across in the
conducive as possible.Other sources of stress and course of their duties. Silberman (2007) also
burnout in the prison system among staff and suggests that those in charge of prison system
correction officers include; understaffing, rotating should implement the pre-serviceand on-going
shift work, overtime, and dealing with hardened training for both new and old hires of the prison
criminals who do not want to be there in the first system as this will give them the proper tools and
place (Lambert et al, 2006). In addition, the threat education they need to confront the different
of inmate violence and the actual violence from situations that could lead to burnout and stress in
inmates, poor public image and support, low pay the system.
creates stress and burnout for officers.
Some of the possible causes of burnout and stress
The disadvantages of working in the prison among correctional officers as outlined by
system in Nigeria far outweigh its advantages to (Lambert et al, 2006) includes; poor
which several studies have attested to (Obiora, communication between staff and management on
2011, Omorotionwman, 2005). Addressing the one hand, and staff and inmates on the other.
problems of burnout and stress among Nigerian Other causes comprises lack of support for
prison staffshould be of importance to the employees, confusion about specific role within
Nigerian government because motivation the organization, lack of motivation from the
influences employee preferences in the workplace. management, and income not reflecting the
In fact, stress and burnout can cause impaired contribution to the team. The panacea to these
health problems, early retirement, and impaired problems is for the management of prison system
family life. Lambert, Paoline, and Hogan to identify them and promptly deal with them
(2006)summed it best when they wrote that before they lead to stress and burnout. Silberman
Correctional employees are as much imprisoned (2007 and Hoey(1998) proposes holding one to
as their captives and a very real pain of that one meetings with employees of the system by the
imprisonment is interaction with less than organizational leaders as this will help to identify
desirable persons (p.54). the possible sources of stress and burnout with a
view of implementing stress and burnout coping
Working in such a violent environment day after and relieve measures such as training workshops
day is stressful and frustrating for correctional for stress management for individuals and group
officers and can affect their lives styles, careers, support (Tracy, 2003; Smith, 1984; Hoey,
family life, marriage, and other personal and 1998).Even though there is evidence that upon
social life outside of the confines of the detection stress among correction officers can be
institutional walls. corrected and treated effectively (Smith, 1984), it
makes sense for correctional leadership to focus
Solutions to the Problem of Stress and Burnout on the prevention.
among Prison Staff in Nigeria
Implications for the Criminal Justice System.
Prison workers in Nigeria are constantly being
challenged by the day to put a great deal of effort Working in a prison environment can be very
aimed at dealing with the threatening environment stressful. Prison staff faces daily challenges in
in which they work or else they could find changing offender behavior, a task that is difficult.
themselves continually responding and reacting to In Nigeria, as well as in other parts of the world,
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Nigeria;Vol.2|Issue 02|Pg:1115-1120
2015
correctional staff work hard to provide inmates the trainingeducation. This has a detrimental effect on
mental and physical health needs, educational prisoners' health and well-being, as well as their
opportunities, and work skill development future success in society after they complete their
programs in a secure and safe environment. Yet, sentences. This lack of resources also affects
not all inmates within this context engage in society because inmates are less likely to be
productive activities. Some of these inmates rehabilitated and, therefore, are more likely to
exhibit violent behaviors towards correctional commit more crimes, thereby giving correctional
staff such as harassing, provocative, and officers more work to do. Without access to
damaging behaviors. Staff may be assaulted with treatment and other programs, inmates are much
a mixture of bodily fluids thrown in their face. more likely to reoffend upon release and continue
Prison staffs are subjected to constant hours of to cycle in and out of the prison system.
screaming and curses, these angry outbursts from
inmates may incite other offenders into similar References:
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Nigeria;Vol.2|Issue 02|Pg:1115-1120
2015
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