NCJ Number
83586
Date Published
1980
Length
219 pages
Annotation
The relationship between various social structural variables and the distribution of occupationally related attitudes among corrections workers is quantitatively analyzed.
Abstract
Ten hypotheses were advanced and tested against questionnaire data drawn from a medium security State correctional institution. Findings focus on the relationship between the paramilitary institutional order and corrections worker perceptions of (1) organizational structure, (2) attitudes toward inmates, (3) degree of agreement with maximum sanctions for inmate violation of institutional norms, and (4) occupational cynicism. The data indicate that corrections workers, especially the security staff, function within a paramilitary structure of social relationships which tends to vary in strictness of oligarchical control according to the degree of security and custody maintained. Among the security personnel, lower echelon workers tended to favor significantly stronger sanctions than their superiors. This difference suggests that attitudes are derived from strain stemming from the distribution of work responsibilities of the security function. High increases in occupational cynicism were noted immediately following the academy training period and after 1 month of probationary work at the correctional center. The important variable is not that of longevity of service but the nature of events during these time frames. It appears that attitude formation and development might be better explained by focusing on the influence of the interactive socialization process undergone by various types of corrections workers. Tabular data and the questionnaires are provided, along with a bibliography of about 70 listings.