Prison Workers' Perception of Self-Legitimacy, Relations, and Professional Competencies: A Comprehensive Study in Slovenia

This book dives deep into the intricate realm of prison workers' self-legitimacy within Slovenia's non-Western prison system. It uncovers how their perceptions of authority significantly influence their interactions with prisoners, especially regarding different approaches to treatment of prisoners, including the use of force. Unlike traditional Western models, this study adapts to the unique challenges present in Slovenian prisons, offering fresh insights and approaches.

Through a longitudinal study comparing data from 2016 to 2022, the book illuminates the evolving nature of self-legitimacy among prison workers, shedding light on the impact of changing social contexts. It provides a bridge between theoretical understanding and practical application, contributing valuable knowledge to the fields of criminology and penology. The chapters that follow include comprehensive discussions on theoretical frameworks, methodological intricacies, and the practical implications of these findings for Slovenia's penal system.

Ultimately, this book serves as an indispensable resource for those interested in understanding and improving the dynamics of authority and legitimacy within correctional environments.

Rok Hacin, Ph.D., is an associate professor of criminology at the Faculty of Criminal Justice and Security, University of Maribor, Slovenia. In 2018, he finished his doctoral dissertation entitled "Comparison of Self-legitimacy of the Prison Staff and Prisoner's Perceptions of Prison Staff Legitimacy". His bibliography comprises more than 240 works, including 40 scientific articles, 3 scientific monographs, and 12 chapters in scientific monographs. Works in the field of legitimacy/self-legitimacy have been published in prestigious international scientific journals (Criminal Justice and Behavior, Policing, European Journal of Criminology, The Prison Journal, European Journal of Crime, Criminal Law and Criminal Justice, International Journal of Offender Therapy and Comparative Criminology) and the scientific monograph “The Dual Nature of Legitimacy in the Prison Environment: An Inquiry in Slovenian Prisons” (Springer Briefs in Criminology). In 2022-2023, he led a project entitled "Research in the field of professional competencies of prison workers and relations in prisons" financed by the Slovenian Prison Administration. In 2020, he received the ESC Young Criminologist Award for his article "Prisoners' Perceptions of Legitimacy of Prison Staff in Slovenia".

Gorazd Meško, Ph.D., is a professor of criminology at the Faculty of Criminal Justice and Security, University of Maribor, Slovenia. His bibliography comprises more than 1,930 works, including 214 scientific articles, 17 scientific monographs, and 87 chapters in scientific monographs. Works in the field of legitimacy/self-legitimacy have been published in prestigious international scientific journals (European Journal on Criminal Policy and Research, Psychology, Crime & Law, Crime and Delinquency, Criminal Justice and Behavior, Policing, European Journal of Criminology, The Prison Journal, European Journal of Crime, Criminal Law and Criminal Justice, International Journal of Offender Therapy and Comparative Criminology). He is a co-author of the scientific monograph “The Dual Nature of Legitimacy in the Prison Environment: An Inquiry in Slovenian Prisons” (Springer Briefs in Criminology), and editor of the book “Trust and Legitimacy in Criminal Justice: European Perspectives” (Springer). He led numerous projects including “Legitimacy and Legality of Policing, Criminal Justice and Execution of Penal Sanctions” (2013-2016) financed by the Slovenian Research and Innovation Agency and “Presentation of the Results of the Research on the Professional Competencies and Self-Legitimacy of the Prison Staff and the Implementation of Focused Group Interviews in Prison Institutions” (2023) financed by the Slovenian Prison Administration. He is a recipient of the Freda Adler Distinguished Scholar Award (2022) and the Gerhard O.W. Mueller Award (2024).