ABSTRACT
This chapter is concerned with the manner in which officers construct their identities within the prison context and the impact of this on how they exercise their roles and responsibilities. Utilising critical theory, it considers how officers 'construct' their individual identities within the prison setting and how they make sense of their role and their obligations. According to data published by the Ministry of Justice and the Prison Reform Trust, the Prison Service in England and Wales has, in recent years, seen a reduction in the number of staff employed across all grades in the public prison estate. Officer's official role seemingly focuses on the management of prisoners, the maintenance of security and order within the prison setting, and the completion of operational and administrative tasks. Compassion seemingly justified officers' attempts at crafting their own role, yet through their discursive constructions of the security tasks, they seemingly accepted the duties and obligations assigned through their employment.
