Building Trust, Reducing Conflict “An exploration of Micro Interactions between Correctional Transport Officers and Inmates”

Abstract: ABSTRACT This qualitative study includes participant observations which were conducted within the transport department of the Swedish correctional service whose main task is to conduct and perform various tasks regarding transports of individuals within the custody of the correctional office. This regarde mainly people awaiting trial who are being transported to court proceedings or to different facilities. The main goal of the study was to map out and explore how officers whose job it was to maintain the custody of an inmate or a person awaiting trial, and the person which were being transported interacted and developed trust in the limited time frame they had together while the officers and inmate maintained their perceived social roles. Fieldwork resulted in 15 observations with one observation averaging around seven hours. From previous research and established sociological interactional theories, such as Goffman and Collins, patterns and operationalization could be made through analysis of the collected data. The study was limited both in time as well as scope, where more time would have resulted in larger amounts of data and a broader analysis of more complex forms of interaction. This is something that could be expanded upon in future research and come to great use in further education in how to establish trust as well as conflict avoidance trainin