Drill, discipline and decency? Exploring the significance of prior military experience for prison staff culture

Building on prior theorization of the prison–military complex and critiques Foucault’s claim similarities between prison military, this article uses example ex-military personnel as staff to consider nature relationship. In a UK context in which policy discourse speaks ‘military’ methods an aspiration for Prison Service but where critical scholars use term more pejoratively, it draws unique survey current former explore perceived characteristics personnel, relationship military service culture. The finds that although some recall negative ‘traditional’ cultures, others point towards professional compassionate attitudes, challenging notion ‘militarism’ necessarily engenders authoritarian punitive regimes.