From Procedural Justice to Procedural Injustice: Understanding Prison Staff and Inmate Conflict

Abstract

Abstract This article focuses on the idea of procedural justice in prison. Prison employees in our case study explain that using respectful language improves their interactions with the inmates. However, some interviewees describe harsh language and threats used against the inmates. We identify this as procedural injustice where they force the inmates to comply by threatening them with harsh punishment. The choice to use respectful behaviour is dependent on whether or not inmates question their authority. Training needs to focus on helping prison workers present themselves as legitimate authority figures rather than authoritarians.