NCJ Number
64889
Date Published
1979
Length
25 pages
Annotation
FOCUSING ON THE CONCERNS, ATTITUDES, AND RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE CORRECTIONS INDUSTRIAL STAFF, THE REPORT PRESENTS INFORMATION FROM A STUDY OF THE ONTARIO MINISTRY OF CORRECTIONAL SERVICES INDUSTRIAL AND WORK PROGRAMS.
Abstract
DATA IN THE REPORT COME FROM INTERVIEWS CONDUCTED WITH 115 INDUSTRIAL PROGRAM SUPERVISORS FROM 7 CORRECTIONAL CENTERS. WORK PROGRAMS WERE GROUPED INTO FIVE CATEGORIES FOR THE STUDY: TRAINING, MAINTENANCE, PRODUCTION FOR INSTITUTIONS, PRODUCTION FOR MARKET USE, AND FOR COMMUNITY SERVICE. RESULTS INDICATE THAT THE AVERAGE OFFICER IS 48 YEARS OF AGE, HAD BEEN WITH THE MINISTRY FOR 14 YEARS, AND HAS OCCUPIED HIS PRESENT POSITION FOR ALMOST 9 YEARS. A TOTAL OF 27 PERCENT OF THE STAFF HAD NO PREVIOUS TRAINING OR EXPERIENCE RELATED TO THEIR CURRENT WORK, INDICATING THE NEED FOR A PROGRAM ORIENTED TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF INDUSTRY SUPERVISORS. TRAINING PROGRAMS HAD THE FEWEST INMATES AND TENDED TO HAVE ONLY ONE STAFF SUPERVISOR/INSTRUCTOR PER PROGRAM. BY COMPARISON, PRODUCTION PROGRAMS HAD THE MOST INMATES. STAFF ATTACHED THE HIGHEST PRIORITY TO THOSE PROGRAMS WHICH SERVICE OR PRODUCE GOODS FOR INSTITUTIONAL USE. INMATES WERE GENERALLY VIEWED AS CAPABLE WORKERS BUT LACKING IN REAL EXPERIENCE. MOST STAFF MEMBERS SUPPORTED EITHER THE MAINTENANCE OF THE EXISTING ALLOWANCE SCHEME FOR INMATES, OR AN INCREASE IN THE RATE TO A LEVEL APPROACHING THE MINIMUM WAGE. RESPONSES TO COMMUNITY PROGRAMS WERE FAVORABLE. THE RE-ESTABLISHMENT OF FARMING AND AGRICULTURAL PROGRAMS WAS ALSO RECOMMENDED. OTHER SUGGESTIONS CALL FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF CONSISTENT STAFF CLASSIFICATIONS FOR ALL INDUSTRIAL PROGRAM SUPERVISORS AND AN INCREASE IN THE NUMBER OF PROGRAMS TO MATCH THE AVAILABLE LABOR FORCE. TABULAR DATA AND REFERENCES ARE PROVIDED. (WJR)