NCJ Number
64198
Journal
QUEEN'S LAW JOURNAL Volume: 3 Issue: 3 Dated: (SUMMER 1977) Pages: 424-449
Date Published
1977
Length
26 pages
Annotation
RESULTS ARE REPORTED FROM A STUDY OF THE SELECTION, TRAINING, AND EARLY JOB EXPERIENCE OF A GROUP OF CANADIAN CORRECTIONAL OFFICERS.
Abstract
THE RESEARCHERS JOINED ONE COMPLETE INTAKE OF 20 MALE CORRECTIONAL OFFICERS WHO UNDERWENT TRAINING. INTERVIEWS WERE CONDUCTED WITH THE MEN DURING TRAINING REGARDING THEIR MOTIVATIONS IN SEEKING THE JOB, THEIR REACTIONS TO THE TRAINING PROCESS, AND THEIR FIRST DAYS ON THE JOB. THE GROUP RANGED IN AGE FROM 20 TO 33. FOURTEEN OF THE GROUP HAD UNDERGONE EDUCATION SINCE GRADUATING FROM HIGH SCHOOL, THREE WERE UNIVERSITY GRADUATES, MOST DID UNSKILLED AND SEMI-SKILLED MANUAL WORK, AND HAD BEEN ATTRACTED BY THE REGULARITY OF THE WAGES AND THE SECURITY OF CIVIL SERVICE. THE STUDY REVEALED THAT SELECTION, TRAINING, AND ACTUAL JOB OPERATIONS WERE IN MANY CASES OPPOSED TO ONE ANOTHER. TRAINING EMPHASIZED THE SERVICE AND REHABILITATIVE ASPECTS OF THE CORRECTIONAL OFFICER'S WORK, BUT SELECTION AND JOB CONDITIONING EMPHASIZED SECURITY. TRAINEES WHO WERE GEARED TO APPROACH THE JOB TO HELP INMATES WERE CRITICIZED BY SENIOR OFFICERS FOR CONVERSING WITH INMATES. THE AUTHOR SUGGESTS A REALISTIC INTEGRATION OF JOB EXPECTATIONS AND TRAINING IS NEEDED. A BALANCE BETWEEN REHABILITATIVE AND SECURITY ROLES SHOULD ALSO BE DEVELOPED. THIS MIGHT BEST BE DONE IN AN ACTUAL PRISON ENVIRONMENT, WHERE TRAINEES COULD UNIFY THEORY AND PRACTICE. A BIBLIOGRAPHY IS PROVIDED. (RCB)