The Use of Force by Detention Officers

Griffin conducted a survey of all detention officers in Maricopa County, Arizona, a jail system known for punitive policies and for a sheriff with a national reputation for severity. Griffin's findings indicate that attitudes toward the use force are influenced by authority, fear of victimization, quality of supervision, institutional operations, and role ambiguity. These findings suggest that interactions between officers and supervisory personnel and interactions directly with inmates have a more direct influence on the use force than either perceptions of the larger organization or an officer's individual characteristics.