Socialization Across the Three Stages of the Correctional Services of Canada's Correctional Officer Training Program: An Ethnographic Study

Authors

Rosemary Ricciardelli, Memorial University

Abstract

The current ethnographic study reflects my participation in elements of the three stages of the correctional officer training program (CTP) offered by the Correctional Service of Canada (CSC). Unpacking my experience, I use Van Maanen and Schein (1977) theory of organizational socialization to analyze the formal and informal socialization processes inherent to the structure of the training academy. Thematic reflection on informal socialization processes reveal that the pressures tied to module content and testing reinforce values welcomed by CSC, such as organizational commitment, before the recruit’s arrival at the academy. Moreover, at the academy, where the emphasis remains on organizational commitment, a seemingly contradictory message emerges, where the academy atmosphere and lessons encourage collective solidary and comradery among recruits, while also reminding recruits to remain self-focused, enforcing that recruits are accountable for their actions or role in the acts of others. In response, I show how recruits appear to be socialized for, what I refer to as, caveated comradery; where recruits learn the value of collective solidarity and comradery but only as far as all recruits act with integrity and abide to the behavioral expectations of the organization.

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 International License.

Recommended Citation

Ricciardelli, Rosemary (2022) "Socialization Across the Three Stages of the Correctional Services of Canada's Correctional Officer Training Program: An Ethnographic Study," Qualitative Criminology (QC): Vol. 11: No. 1, Article 3.
Available at: https://dc.swosu.edu/qc/vol11/iss1/3