Psychological Readiness of Pre-Trial Detention Center Officers to Use Lethal Force with Firearms

The article addresses the problem of psychological readiness of correctional security officers to use lethal force with firearms. The peculiarities of their operational and service activities related to the potential use of firearms are analysed, and the factors contributing to stress and having a negative impact on the personality of pre-trial detention center officers carrying out service with weapons are identified. The sample consisted of 25 employees from the security department, who perform their duties with firearms at the Federal Penitentiary Institution SIZO-1 of the Federal Penitentiary Service of Russia in the Republic of Mari El. The research methods included a diagnostic block: the 16 Personality Factor Questionnaire by R.B. Cattell (Form C), the Melbourne Decision Making Questionnaire, and G. Schubert’s “Readiness for Risk” technique (RSK). The Psychometric Expert program was used to process the data. During the empirical research, which aimed to study the psychological readiness of these employees to use lethal force with firearms, a group of officers with low psychological readiness for using lethal force with firearms was identified. It was concluded that specialized psychological work is necessary for these individuals, aimed at developing and enhancing their psychological readiness.

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