“Man blir stressad, pulsen höjs direkt och det är nästan lite panikkänslor” : En kvalitativ studie om känslan av otrygghet hos kriminalvårdare i arbetet med de intagna.

Sammanfattning: Unpredictable situations are a common phenomena in detention centres. This is because employees work in daily contact with inmates. Correctional officers must therefore manage their own emotions as well as the emotions of their inmates. The aim of the study is to highlight the correctional officers’ experiences of insecurity in detention, when working with the inmates. Furthermore, the study examines the security measures taken by the leadership of detention centres as an authority to achieve greater security among its employees. Research shows that correctional officers are one of the most insecure professionals in the workplace. There are also various emotional rules that correctional officers must follow in their work with inmates, to maintain their legitimacy. The theoretical frame of reference of the study is based on Giddens structuration theory, his concept of ontological security and trust, and Hochschild's theory of emotional work. The present study uses qualitative interviews with individuals working on the detention centres, in close contact with the inmates. The results of the study show that strong collegial relationships as well as a strong individual self-confidence of the individual contribute to an increased sense of security at work. The feeling of security also depends on how long an individual has worked in the detention centres. There are informal emotional rules that employees need to follow in their professional role, and through emotion management this can influence prisoners' perceptions of insecurity. In terms of security measures, the detention centres have introduced alarms, meetings, and education to ensure a good working environment. The interviews indicated that the correct officers regarded the education for new staff is unsuccessful in various aspects by employees, and that the safety alarm was seen as the key element when it came to security measures. The sociological perspective, including several theories from Giddens and Hochschild, is relevant to the study as it aims to study subjective experiences and emotions in unpredictable situations that arise when working with inmates.