TYLA: Counseling activities by correctional officers for inmates in prisons under the Ministry of Public Security.

Author's name: Le Thu Trang

Thesis title:Counseling activities by correctional officers for inmates in prisons under the Ministry of Public Security.

Field of study of the thesis: Psychology

Major: Psychology Code: 62 31 04 01

Name of the postgraduate training unit: University of Social Sciences and Humanities - Vietnam National University, Hanoi.

1. Purpose and scope of the thesis

1.1. Purpose: Based on theoretical research and investigation of the current situation regarding the counseling activities of correctional officers for inmates in prisons and the influencing factors, this study proposes recommendations to improve the counseling capacity of correctional officers in prisons.

1.2. Research Subject: Counseling activities of correctional officers for inmates in prisons.

2. Research methods used

- Documentary research method

- Expert method

- Questionnaire survey method

- In-depth interview method

- Case analysis method

- Data processing methods using statistical mathematics

3. Main results and conclusions

3.1. Main results

The results of practical research on the counseling activities of correctional officers for inmates in prisons focus on clarifying the following aspects:

- The current situation and difficulties in counseling activities in prisons.

- Manifestations of negative emotions and negative behaviors in prisoners.

- Topics, timing, and number of inmates consulted.

- Proactiveness in the work of correctional officers

- Counseling skills for inmates by correctional officers

- Ethical principles and professional qualities required of a counselor

- Effectiveness after consultation

- Factors affecting the counseling activities of prison guards in correctional facilities.

- Predictive factors for correctional officer counseling activities in prisons.

3.2. Conclusion

- Theoretical aspects: Based on inheriting and systematizing research worldwide, the thesis has identified the conceptual tools of the topic related to the counseling activities of correctional officers for inmates in prisons, and at the same time pointed out some factors affecting the counseling practice of correctional officers in prisons. The results of the thesis are used as a supporting document for research and training on counseling in prisons.

- In practice: The survey results of 359 correctional officers in three prisons revealed their assessments of various aspects of counseling activities. Generally, due to the demands of managing and educating inmates, correctional officers possess a high level of understanding of the work related to inmates in counseling. However, they face difficulties in applying questioning skills to the inmates' situations and prioritize ethical qualities associated with specific professional competencies over those associated with general professional competencies. The principle of confidentiality is the most frequently used by correctional officers in counseling.

Some predictions for the counseling activities of correctional officers drawn from the dissertation are: predictions of changes in the time and number of inmates counseled, predictions of changes in counseling topics, predictions of changes in counseling skills, predictions of changes in professional qualities, and predictions of changes in the ethical aspects of counseling.

The novel contribution of this dissertation is that the research has highlighted the confusion of roles, the conflict between professional ethics and personal ethics, and the interplay between institutional requirements in detention facilities and the need for counseling among correctional officers. Due to the multi-role nature of their work in the current Vietnamese prison context, counseling activities present correctional officers with numerous challenges. If correctional officers were to separate their roles within their work, they would undoubtedly be able to provide more effective counseling to inmates.

                                                                SUMMARY OF DOCTORAL THESIS

The author's name: Le Thu Trang

Thesis title: Psychological counseling activities of prison officers for prisoners in the prison of Ministry of Public Security

Scientific branch of the thesis: Psychology

Major: Psychology Code: 62 31 04 01

The name of postgraduate training institution: University of Social Sciences and Humanities

1. Thesis purpose and objectives

1.1 Thesis purpose: The thesis is based on hypotheses and investigating the situation of psychological counseling activities of prison officers in jails and some factors affecting. The thesis gives some comments for raising officer's consultation capacity.

1.2 Objectives: Psychological counseling activities of prison officers in the prison

2. Research methods

• Document research method
• Specialized method
• Questionaire method
• In-depth interview method
• Case analysis method

3. Major results and connections

3.1 Major results

Practical results of psychological counseling activities of prison officers for prisoners in detention center focus on clarifying aspects:

- Some disadvantages situation of consultation activities in detention center

- Some negative emotional emotions and prisoner's negative behavior

- Topics, Time and the number of prisoners who were consulted

- Prison officers 's initiative in work

- Psychological counseling skill for prison officers

- Some Morality rules and professional qualities of consultation

- Effective after consultation

- Some factors effect on consultation activities in prison

- Predictive factors for consultation activities in prison

3.2 Conclusions

• In terms of theory: Based on the inheritance, systematization of researches in the world, the thesis has identified the instrumental concepts of the topic related to the consultation activities of prison officers for prisoners at detention center. Moreover, showing some factors affecting the consultation practice of prison officers. The thesis results are used as a supporting document for other research and training on consultation at prison.
• In terms of practice: Results of 359 prison officers' survey in three detention centers gave some comments of consultation activities. In general, due to the requirements of the prisoner's educational managament, hence the prison officers have a high understanding of the work related to prisoners in consultation. They have difficulty applying the questionare skills to each client's case and giving prominence to moral qualities associated with specialized professional capacity than general professional competence, the information security principle is most used in consultation.
• Some forecasts for the consultation activities were drawn in the thesis inluding: changes in time, number of prisoners being consulted, change in consultation topics, counseling skills, change in vocational quality and ethical aspects.
• The new contribution of the thesis is that research has pointed out the confusion of roles, the contradiction between professional ethics and personal ethics, institutional requirements of detention and consultation requirements of prison officers. Nowadays, because of holding many roles and job duties in Vietnamese prison's background, they face many challenges and the facts that If they are separate their roles in the work, they will probably carry out consultation activities more effectively.