A forensic psychiatrist has shed light on the psychological factors that may drive female prison officers into illicit relationships with inmates.
A London-based forensic psychiatrist and creator of the YouTube channel A Psych for Sore Minds, Dr. Sohom Das, explores crime, mental health, and related issues on his platform.
In a recent video, he examined the growing number of cases involving female prison staff engaging in sexual relationships with male inmates.
Recent reports indicate a concerning rise in such incidents, with 29 female prison officers dismissed over the past three years for engaging in inappropriate relationships—more than triple the nine cases recorded between 2017 and 2019.
Among the most publicized cases, former HMP Wandsworth officer Linda De Sousa Abreu received a 15-month prison sentence after a viral video surfaced of her engaging in sexual activity with an inmate.
Similarly, 29-year-old Toni Cole was sentenced to a year in prison after authorities discovered she had exchanged 4,369 intimate messages and participated in 18 sexualized video calls with a prisoner at HMP Five Wells.
Dr. Das identifies six psychological factors that may contribute to these relationships, including feelings of power, vulnerability, and manipulation. Here’s a breakdown of his key insights:
1. Manipulation Tactics
Some inmates are highly skilled at manipulating prison staff, targeting those they perceive as emotionally vulnerable.
According to Dr. Das, certain prisoners use “flattery, charm, or feigned vulnerability to gain the officer’s trust and affection.” This psychological maneuvering allows them to exploit the officer for personal gain or emotional leverage.
2. Grooming
Rather than making direct advances, inmates often employ a slow and strategic approach, gradually pushing professional boundaries.
Dr. Das explains, “So what I’m saying is, obviously the inmates don’t just approach the officers and propose [that they have sex]… they start off with basic flirting, which escalates, and they eventually graduate.”
He compares this tactic to grooming behaviors seen in cult recruitment or cases of childhood sexual abuse, noting that perpetrators tend to “target individuals who they deem are vulnerable and susceptible.” Those recently out of relationships or socially isolated may be particularly at risk.
3. Seeking Validation and Attention
Dr. Das describes this as a “huge psychological factor at play,” where some officers may seek emotional validation from inmates, particularly if they struggle with self-esteem or personal difficulties.
“Especially if they’re experiencing difficulties in their personal lives, and especially if they have low self-esteem already. So for example, they might lack a strong support system outside of work,” he explained.
4. Past Trauma and Psychological Patterns
A history of trauma or abuse can make some officers more prone to manipulation. Dr. Das noted, “The sad truth is that some people, especially women, gravitate towards what’s familiar rather than what is safe.”
He also highlights hybristophilia, a condition where individuals develop a sexual attraction to criminals. “This type of attraction happens, actually, quite frequently,” he states.
5. Power and Control Dynamics
Some officers might become involved with inmates due to a perceived sense of control, believing they are the ones holding power in the relationship.
However, Das warns, “They might feel that they’re manipulating the prisoner, especially if it’s a male guard and a female inmate, but in actuality, it’s probably the other way around.”
He further explains that inmates often use these relationships to their advantage, convincing officers to engage in illegal activities such as smuggling contraband.
6. Stressful Work Conditions
Dr. Das, who has worked in prison settings himself, acknowledges that the high-stress environment may play a role in these situations.
“Prison officers work in a high-stress environment… often facing challenges and situations dealing with difficult individuals,” he says.
He added that the constant threat of violence in some prisons could contribute to officers seeking emotional connections, even in inappropriate ways.
Can Better Training Prevent These Incidents?
While some argue that improved training and supervision could reduce the occurrence of these relationships, Dr. Das is skeptical.
“It could be argued at a stretch that insufficient training of professional boundaries and the dangers of inmate relationships and manipulation can leave officers vulnerable,” he stated.
However, he believes that officers “inherently know that carnal relationships are wrong.” Prison staff are typically warned during training about the risks, including real-life cases of officers who faced imprisonment for engaging in such affairs.
For a more effective deterrent, Dr. Das suggests having individuals with lived experience share their personal stories.
“They could explain and say, ‘Look, it’s not as obvious as you think. There is this grooming behavior, this gradual pushing of boundaries—this is how it happened to me, this is how it kind of slipped under my radar,’” he concludes.
By understanding these psychological motivations, institutions may be able to better address the issue and prevent further cases of inappropriate relationships between officers and inmates.
