FLEX-ability

Module 1 · Activity 1a

The Clean Cell

VisitedIndividual learningGroup facilitation

You will take the perspective of a prison officer dealing with a prisoner who repeatedly fails to follow the rules concerning cell cleanliness.

At first, his behaviour may look like deliberate non-compliance.

As the situation develops, however, you will need to consider whether he actually understands the rules and whether confusion, communication difficulties or shame may be contributing to his behaviour.

The challenge: How do you distinguish resistance from a genuine difficulty in understanding?

As you complete it, consider what you see

Is the prisoner deliberately refusing to follow the rules — or has he understood something differently from what staff intended?

And, when time is limited, how can a correctional officer identify the difference?

Before decision 1 of 3

Exit to module

Cell inspection1/3

A correctional officer stands at the open door of a cell. Inside, a man in green prison clothing sits on the edge of an unmade bed, looking down. Clothes lie on the floor.

You are a correctional officer working on an accommodation wing.

During the morning inspection, you stop outside John's cell.

The cell is not filthy, but several things are not as they should be.

  • Clothes are on the floor.
  • The bed has not been made according to the wing's requirements.
  • Personal items are beside the bed rather than stored where they should be.

Your place and choices in this scenario are saved on this device only.

Facilitator guidance
  • Bewilderment can quickly be interpreted as resistance. A person who does not understand what is expected may appear uncooperative, unmotivated or deliberately non-compliant.
  • Staff must maintain rules and boundaries while also recognising when apparent non-compliance may have another explanation. Taking a few moments to check understanding, use simpler language, repeat an instruction or provide a visual explanation may prevent a misunderstanding from becoming a recurring disciplinary issue.
  • Correctional staff work within significant practical constraints. Staff shortages, competing responsibilities and the pace of prison life can make it difficult to give individual people in detention the time they need.

Source: FLEX-ability Trainer's Manual, Module 1.

Printable materials

No printable materials have been supplied for this activity yet.

Previous: Introduction and learning outcomesNext: Rewrite the house rules

Your progress and saved responses are stored only in this browser on this device. They do not sync to other devices and are not sent anywhere.