Encountering Correctional Populations. Kathleen A. Fox

      UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA PRESS

      University of California Press, one of the most distinguished university presses in the United States, enriches lives around the world by advancing scholarship in the humanities, social sciences, and natural sciences. Its activities are supported by the UC Press Foundation and by philanthropic contributions from individuals and institutions. For more information, visit www.ucpress.edu.

      University of California Press

      Oakland, California

      © 2018 by Kathleen A. Fox, Jodi Lane, and Susan F. Turner

      Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

      Names: Fox, Kathleen A., author. | Lane, Jodi, 1967– author. | Turner, Susan, 1954– author.

      Title: Encountering correctional populations : a practical guide for researchers / Kathleen A. Fox, Jodi Lane, and Susan F. Turner.

      Description: Oakland, California : University of California Press, [2018] | Includes bibliographical references and index. |

      Identifiers: LCCN 2017033397 (print) | LCCN 2017037977 (ebook) | ISBN 9780520966765 (ebook) | ISBN 9780520293564 (cloth : alk. paper) | ISBN 9780520293571 (pbk : alk. paper)

      Subjects: LCSH: Criminology—Research—United States. | Corrections—Research—United States. | Criminal statistics—United States. | Correctional institutions—United States—Data processing.

      Classification: LCC HV6024.5 (ebook) | LCC HV6024.5.F69 2018 (print) | DDC 365.072/073—dc23

      LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2017033397

      Manufactured in the United States of America

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       Kate’s dedication:

       To Chris, Jack, and Max Talbot

       Jodi’s dedication:

       To Chris and Cooper Wilson

       Susan’s dedication:

       To Stephen, Susie, and Tessa

      Contents

       List of Illustrations

       Acknowledgments

      1.Introduction

      2.Gaining Access to and Building Rapport with Correctional Populations

      3.Types of Correctional Data That Can Be Collected

      4.Informed Consent Process and Research Ethics

      5.Logistics of Doing Research with Correctional Populations

       Appendix A. Agency Letter of Support

       Appendix B. Weekly Contact Sheet for Staff with Client Caseloads in the Experimental (SOCP) Group

       Appendix C. Weekly Contact Code Sheet for Staff with Client Caseloads in the Experimental (SOCP) Group

       Appendix D. Publically Available Data Sources

       Appendix E. “Thinking for a Change” Facilitator Peer Rating Form

       Appendix F. General Inforamed Consent for Traditional Placements in the Florida Faith and Community-Based Delinquency Treatment Initiative (FCBDTI)

       Appendix G. Example of Re-Consent for Youths Participating in the Faith and Community-Based Delinquency Treatment Initiative (FCBDTI)

       Appendix H. Informed Consent Form for Youth Interview

       Appendix I. Example IRB Protocol

       Appendix J. Application for a Research Assistant Position

       References

       Recommended Further Reading

       Index

Illustrations

      FIGURES

      1.Recommended steps for gaining access to multiple facilities

      2.Contact stamp for staff with client caseloads in the control (routine probation) group in SOCP

      3.Transcription template

      4.Example of an interview card to be handed to respondent

      5.Interviewer assessment form

      BOXES

      1.Example verbiage to explain request to access jails

      2.Building rapport with staff when the researcher has correctional experience

      3.Examples of how to respond to an inmate touch

      4.Examples of potential physical harm to participants and researchers and ways to reduce risk

      5.Examples of potential psychological harm to offenders and ways to reduce risk

      6.Examples of potentially coercive situations and ways to avoid coercion

      7.The case of Rick Scarce’s ethical dilemma

      8.Example of incomplete disclosure used by the authors of this book

      9.Things to consider: Researchers’ gender, race/ethnicity, age, sexuality, etc.

      10.Back translation and correctional settings

Acknowledgments

      We thank Carrie Cook for providing insight about studying jail officers and Lora Levett for sharing her research assistant application. We also thank all of the people who have worked with us in the field over the years.

      CHAPTER ONE

Introduction

      PURPOSE OF THIS GUIDEBOOK

      Over the years, the three of us have been actively involved in research with offenders and the people who attempt to control them through the correctional system. This means we often talk to offenders and others in the system and think about their lives. While many criminologists study offenders, offending, and its consequences, fewer actually journey into the correctional world. Indeed, this is not something that researchers are actively encouraged to do in some academic realms. Beyond our traditional doctoral studies, we received no formal training to prepare us for the exciting and challenging experiences associated with encountering correctional populations. Yet,