TTLA: Counseling activities of prison officers for prisoners in prisons under the Ministry of Public Security

1. Full name of PhD student:Le Thu Trang2. Gender:Female

3. Date of birth:September 14, 19854. Place of birth:Vinh City - Nghe An

5. Decision to recognize graduate students:No. 3253/2016/QD - XHNV dated September 30, 2016

6. Changes in the training process:Do not have

7. Thesis topic name:Counseling activities of prison officers for prisoners in prisons under the Ministry of Public Security

8. Major:Psychology9. Code: 62 31 04 01

10. Scientific instructor:Prof. Dr. Tran Thi Minh Duc

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Bui Thi Hong Thai

11. Summary of new results of the thesis:

- In terms of theory: This is the first thesis in Vietnam to study the counseling activities of prison officers as non-professional counselors in prisons. Based on many studies in the world and small-scale studies in Vietnam, this study is a supporting document for research and training on basic counseling in prisons. The description of educational and vocational training programs in the world is a suggestion for the Ministry of Public Security and Department C10 to consider and gradually build vocational training programs for prisoners suitable for the context of Vietnamese prisons in the future.

The thesis initially built a set of measurement tools on aspects of lay consultation activities of prison officers. This suggests further studies to adjust and perfect this set of measurement tools.

• In practice:

The results of descriptive analysis show that the current status of counseling skills of prison officers is still low: prison officers mainly ask closed questions (questioning skills) and give advice based on their own subjective opinions (empathy skills).

The results of the statistical analysis inferred from the regression found some trends that predict the influence on the counseling activities of prison officers: (1)On the effectiveness of consultation, correctional officers who had some knowledge about counseling (had studied counseling) and had a higher sense of happiness in their work were more likely to predict an increase in the effectiveness of counseling for prisoners. (2)About consulting skills, higher job satisfaction among correctional officers predicted an increased tendency to perform well in listening to prisoners. Likewise, higher self-esteem among correctional officers predicted an increased tendency to perform well in providing information. (3)On attitude and ethics in dealing with prisoners, correctional officers with higher job satisfaction were more likely to demonstrate empathy for prisoners, accept prisoners, and practice confidentiality when talking with prisoners. While correctional officers with higher self-esteem were more likely to respect prisoners' autonomy in resolving their personal problems. (4)Aboutprofessional qualities, correctional officers with positive self-perceptions and high job well-being predicted increased levels of self-efficacy in counseling prisoners. Correctional officers' job well-being may increase their assessment of the importance of general and specific job qualities. (5)On the topics of consultation,Female correctional officers, those who had received counseling training, and those who reported higher job happiness tended to predict increased likelihood of counseling on topics related to prisoners' personal lives.

12. Practical application:

The thesis provides interested people with a diverse view of the issue of psychological support for prisoners in prisons in Vietnam today.

13. Further research directions:

The research results of the thesis are the basis for the author and interested people to conduct further research in a more systematic manner on aspects such as: 1/ Research to complete the questionnaire to evaluate counseling activities for prisoners in prisons; 2/ Develop training methods to improve counseling skills of prison guards for prisoners (in conditions where prison guards do not have background knowledge of psychology; counseling and psychotherapy); 3/ Research on the mental health of prisoners and prison guards; 4/ Evaluate and develop programs to support prisoners towards sustainable reintegration into the community; 5/ Develop the thesis to become a reference document to support research and training on counseling in prisons.

14. Published works related to the thesis:

1. Le Thu Trang (2017), “Prison officers' assessment of difficulties in counseling activities for prisoners”,Proceedings of the 1st Southeast Asian Regional Psychology Conference RCP 2017 with the theme “Human Happiness and Sustainable Development”, November 2017, ISBN: 978 - 604 - 62 - 9913 - 4, p. 193 - 204.
2. Le Thu Trang (2018), “Some research directions on counseling activities for prisoners in the world”,Proceedings of the National Scientific Conference on Psychology and Sustainable Development, November 2018, ISBN: 978 - 604 - 89 - 5922 - 7, p. 435 - 444.
3. Le Thu Trang (2019), “Ethical aspects of counseling activities in prisons, International Conference on Psychology and Psychology Ethics”,Proceedings of the International Conference “Psychology and Psychology Ethics”, September 2019, ISBN: 978 - 604 - 65 - 4417 - 3, p. 655 - 659.
4. Le Thu Trang (2019), “Attitudes of prison officers in supporting prisoners in prisons in northern provinces of Vietnam”,Proceedings of the International Conference “Psychology and Psychology Ethics”, September 2019, ISBN: 978 - 604 - 65 - 4417 - 3, p. 256 - 261.
5. Le Thu Trang (2019), "The role of information mastery level on information provision skills for prisoners of prison officers in prisons",Journal of Psychology (11), ISSN: 1859 - 0098, p. 86 - 97.
6. Le Thu Trang (2019), “Understanding of prison officers about prisoners and counseling topics in prison”,Journal of Social Psychology (12),ISSN: 0866 - 8019, p. 93 - 103.
7. Le Thu Trang (2019), "Understanding of prison officers about difficulties in counseling activities in prisons",Journal of Social Psychology(01), ISSN: 0866 - 8019, p. 108 - 117.

INFORMATION ON DOCTORAL THESIS

1.PhD candidate:Le Thu Trang2.Sex:Female

3.Date of birth: 14/09/1985                     4.Place of birth:Vinh - Nghe An

5.Admission decision number:3253/2016/QD – XHNV dated on September 30, 2016

6.Changes in academic process:No

7.Official thesis title:Psychological counseling activities of prison officers for prisoners in the prison of the Ministry of Public Security

8.Major:Psychology9.Code: 62 31 04 01

10. Supervisors:Prof. Dr. Tran Thi Minh Duc

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Bui Thi Hong Thai

11. Summary of the new findings of the thesis:

- In terms of theory: This is the first thesis conducted in Vietnam about counseling activities of prison officers working as unspecialized officers in prison. From numerous studies conducted in Vietnam and in the world, the thesis is used as a supporting document for other research and basic training on consultation at prison. The descriptions of educational as well as vocational training programs in the world are suggestions for Department C10 of Ministry of Public Security on steps to organize suitable vocational programs for prisoners in a later Vietnamese prison's background.

The project initially develops a framework for the measurement of prison officers' unspecialized counseling activities in the prison, which recommends further research to adjust and improve the measurement.

• In terms of practice:

The descriptive analysis result indicates the prison officers' limited counseling skills: questions raised by prison officers are mostly close-ended questions (Questioning skills) and advice is given subjectively (Empathy skills).

Regression analysis result discovers trends which are predicted to affect the counseling activities of prison officers for prisoners in the prison: (1) With regard to the effectiveness of consulting, prison officers who have a basic knowledge about counseling (have learned about counseling) and higher level of satisfaction tend to have more ability to conduct effective consultations for prisoners. (2) Regarding psychological counseling skills, the higher job satisfaction of prison officers implies better listening skills. Likewise, prison counselors who have higher self-evaluation tend to perform skills of providing information better. (3) In terms of attitude and ethical aspects, prison counselors having higher job satisfaction show a better understanding of the prisoners, have a higher accepting ability and better performance on information security when talking to prisoners. specifically, the higher self-evaluation ability the counselors have, the higher possibility of respecting prisons' decisions on solving personal problems they show. (4) Regarding vocational quality, prison counselors having positive recognition about themselves with high job satisfaction indicates the escalation in their level of self-belief when consulting prisoners. The level of job satisfaction may enhance the prison counselors' evaluation in terms of the importance of both specialized professional capacity and general professional competence. (5) With regard to consulting topics, female prison counselors having learned about counseling and have high job satisfaction indicates the high ability to counseling about topics related to prisoners' private life.

12. Practical applicability:

The thesis provides a diverse insight into current psychological counseling activities for prisoners in the prison in Vietnam.

13. Suggestions research directions:

The thesis' result is the foundation to conduct further studies more scientifically in terms of: 1/ Improve the questionnaire evaluating the counseling activities of prison officers in the prison; 2/ Develop training methods with the aim of enhancing counseling skills of prison officers ( providing the prison officers haven't had a basic understanding of psychology; counseling and psychotherapy); 3/ Research on both prisoners and prison officers' psychological mental health; 4/Evaluate and develop programs aimed at assisting prisoners to reintegrate the community sustainably; 5/ Develop the thesis into reference assisting research and training about counseling in the prison.

14. Thesis – related publications:

1. Le Thu Trang (2017), “Evaluations of prison officers in terms of difficulties in counseling activities for prisoners”,The first Southeast Asia Regional Conference of Psychology with the topic“Human Well-being and Sustainable Development”, 11/2017, ISBN: 978 - 604 - 62 - 9913 - 4, 193 - 204.
2. Le Thu Trang (2018), “Some research guidance on counseling activities for prisoners in the world”,National scientific conference of Psychology and Sustainable Development, November 2018, ISBN: 978 - 604 - 89 - 5922 - 7, 435 - 444.
3. Le Thu Trang (2019), “Ethical aspects of counseling activities in prison, International conference of Psychology and Professional Ethics”,International conference “Psychology and Professional Ethics”(9), ISBN: 978 - 604 - 65 - 4417 - 3, pp.655 - 659.
4. Le Thu Trang (2019), “Prison counsellors' attitude regarding assisting prisoners in prison in northern provinces in Vietnam”,International conference “Psychology and Professional Ethics”(9), ISBN: 978 - 604 - 65 - 4417 - 3, pp. 256 - 261.
5. Le Thu Trang (2019), “The role of information penetration level regarding prison officers' providing information to prisoners in prison skills”,The Journal of Psychology(11), ISSN: 1859 - 0098, pp. 86 - 97.
6. Le Thu Trang (2019), “The knowledge of prison officers about prisoners and counseling topics in prison”,The Journal of Social Psychology(12), ISSN: 0866 – 8019, pp.93 - 103.
7. Le Thu Trang (2019), “The knowledge of prison officers about difficulties in counseling activities in prison”,The Journal of Social Psycholog(1), ISSN: 0866 - 8019, pp.108 - 117.