ABSTRACT
This chapter investigates the following: How does cultural competency take shape in the everyday practice of community corrections officers? How is the practice reflective of officers’ racial beliefs and perspectives? And what is the significance of such practice for the individuals who are subject to it? Drawing on interviews conducted with community corrections officers and observations of routine meetings between officers and probationers/parolees, the chapter argues that, given the lack of uniform understanding of the term ‘cultural competency’, or clear direction from management as to what constitutes a culturally competent approach, the interpretation and consequent meaning of the term is defined through the lens of individual officers’ racial beliefs and perspectives.
