Is 'Never become friends with an offender' considered an unwritten rule?

• A. Sometimes
• B. Not sure
• C. False
• D. True

Answer: (D)

In corrections, many important expectations are guided by professional boundaries. Some of these are written in policy, while others are unwritten rules—norms that aren’t spelled out in every manual but are broadly understood and taught in training and reinforced by daily practice.

The idea that you should never become friends with an offender fits this unwritten-rule pattern. Forming a personal friendship could blur professional lines, affect judgment, and create safety and ethical risks for both staff and offenders. Keeping interactions professional helps maintain authority, reduces the potential for manipulation, and protects the integrity of the correctional environment. Because it’s a widely accepted practice even if not always codified in every policy, it’s considered an unwritten rule.

The other options don’t apply because the concept is about a normative guideline, not a matter of frequency, certainty, or falseness.