Washington State Correctional Officer Practice Exam

How should correctional officers manage personal bias?

1. By favoring inmates with similar backgrounds

2. By adhering to policies and remaining objective

3. By ignoring policies that seem unfair

4. By treating only compliant inmates kindly

The correct answer is: By adhering to policies and remaining objective

Managing personal bias is crucial for correctional officers as it directly impacts the fairness, safety, and integrity of the correctional environment. The correct approach is to adhere to policies and remain objective. This fosters an atmosphere of professionalism and accountability, ensuring that all inmates are treated consistently and equitably according to the established rules and regulations. By following policies, correctional officers can mitigate the influence of personal feelings or preconceived notions about individuals based on their backgrounds, behaviors, or other subjective criteria. This objective handling of inmates allows for a structured environment where behaviors are monitored without favoritism or prejudice, promoting an overall safe and just correctional system. Favoring inmates with similar backgrounds would compromise the principle of fairness and lead to an inconsistency that undermines the order necessary in correctional facilities. Ignoring policies can lead to arbitrary decisions that may not only harm the integrity of the correctional institution but also jeopardize the safety of both staff and inmates. Treating only compliant inmates kindly could create divisions and resentment, violating the principle of impartiality expected within the corrections community. Thus, the best approach is to remain objective and adhere strictly to established policies.