Abstract:

This article examines the concept of dynamic security, a term extensively used in practice and policy within the Norwegian Correctional Service (NCS). The NCS promotes this concept internationally to enhance prison security in Eastern Europe and the USA. However, we argue that the term is not properly defined, leading to unclear understanding and inconsistent interpretations among different stakeholders. This lack of clarity is problematic as it hampers effective learning and application of the concept. The concept of "dynamic security" is critically important in order to maintain the security of the prison officers when dealing with violent inmates. Our problem statement was: How can the concept of dynamic security be understood in relation to work with very violent inmates?

The problem statement was operationalized through two research questions (RQs):
RQ 1: How to educate for a better understanding of dynamic security in a prison context?
RQ 2: How can prison officers learn to better read and calibrate their responses to violent inmates?

Our empirical data comes from interviews with ten prison officers. Based on our data involving highly violent offenders, we have constructed a new definition of dynamic security. The core of this definition is the ability to "read" these inmates. Additionally, the participants are very attentive to their dynamics as a group. The participants referred to being "calibrated," meaning they have trained together extensively, understand and trust each other as colleagues, grasp the relationships within the team, and approach their work dynamically. They describe their team as an organism in relation to the threat, with thorough familiarity and awareness of the work environment, a high level of collective, bodily preparedness to respond quickly, and collective adaptability to shifting situations, all executed as discreetly as possible. Answering our problem statement, this new definition of dynamic security, in the context of very violent inmates, will provide more insight into the phenomenon and deepen the understanding of the concept. Lending support to RQ 1, learning in this context involves prison officers in a community of practice discussing this concept with the crucial necessity of performing their duties correctly to avoid life-threatening consequences. Answering RQ2, learning to better read and calibrate responses to violent inmates can enhance formal education and facilitate learning for prison officers and managers. This will then be based on an empirical description of a new way of working with highly violent prisoners. This understanding can also be applied to situations with lower risks of violence, potentially reducing conflicts and violence overall. Our findings will also be of interest to prison organizations responsible for reducing violence against prison staff. These organizations can use this new understanding to refine their training programs, improve safety protocols, and ultimately create a safer environment for both staff and inmates. The broader implications of this refined concept of dynamic security could lead to significant improvements in correctional facility management worldwide.

Keywords:

Prison officer education, high security prison, dynamic security, learning, violent inmates, response calibration.