Abstract: It is often argued that correctional officer as a group hold values that are antithetical to helping inmates. This assumption links “guard subculture” values to reinforcing group solidarity among correctional officers. This paper explores some of the literature on correctional officer from the perspective of the social psychology of group dynamics. Its conclusion is thot factors which appear to foster group cohesion and group identification among correctional officer are relatively weak or absent. Under conditions of stress, however, these conditions are capable of mobilization. In general, this paper finds that the guard subcultureis not necessarily an impediment to positive guard behaviors
