NCJ Number
52617
Journal
OFFENDER REHABILITATION Volume: 2 Issue: 4 Dated: (SUMMER 1978) Pages: 327-331
Date Published
1978
Length
5 pages
Annotation
CONCLUSIONS FROM LITERATURE ARE USED TO ILLUSTRATE THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THE VARIABLES, COMMITMENT AND IDEOLOGY IN MAINTAINING OCCUPATIONAL TASKS THAT SUPPORT THE POLICIES OF A CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTION.
Abstract
THE ACCEPTED DEFINITION OF IDEOLOGY IS 'ANY BODY OF SYSTEMATICALLY RELATED BELIEFS HELD BY A GROUP OF PEOPLE, PROVIDING THAT THE SYSTEM OF BELIEFS IS SUFFICIENTLY BASIC TO THE GROUP'S WAY OF LIFE.' CORRECTIONAL IDEOLOGIES ARE CONSIDERED TO FALL WITHIN TWO BASIC CATEGORIES: TREATMENT AND CUSTODY. THE IMPORTANCE OF IDEOLOGY AS IT EFFECTS STAFF ORIENTATION IS DISCUSSED. IT IS INDICATED THAT IDEOLOGY WILL HAVE A DETERMINING INFLUENCE ON MANAGERIAL DIRECTIVES, STAFF PHILOSOPHY, INMATE PROGRAMS, AND THE LANGUAGE OF EVERYDAY DECISION-MAKING AND INTERACTION. 'COMMITMENT' IS DEFINED AS 'A HEIGHTENING OF THE PROBABILITY THAT AN ACTION WILL BE UNDERTAKEN AND AN ORDERING OF THE LIKELIHOOD OF ACTION.' IT IS INDICATED THAT COMMITMENT ARISES FROM EMOTIONAL AND RATIONAL ACCEPTANCE AND A BEHAVIORAL DEMONSTRATION OF AN IDEOLOGY. IT IS NOTED THAT ADMINISTRATORS TEND TO HAVE A HIGHER DEGREE OF COMMITMENT THAN ALL OTHER PERSONNEL BECAUSE THEY HAVE HIGHER POSITIONS WITHIN THE ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE AND THE POWER AND AUTHORITY TO MAKE DECISIONS THAT EFFECT LOWER LEVEL STAFF. BECAUSE OF THEIR DEPENDENCE ON PROFESSIONALS WHO SET IDEOLOGY, LOWER LINE STAFF LIMIT THEIR COMMITMENTS TO PARTICULAR IDEOLOGIES AND STRATEGIES OF CHANGE THAT THEY PERCEIVE ARE HELD BY THE PROFESSIONALS IN THEIR INSTITUTION. THIS IS BELIEVED MOST LIKELY TO HAPPEN WHEN SUBORDINATE EMPLOYEES PERCEIVE THEIR INVOLVEMENT AS BOTH LEGITIMATE AND GRATIFYING. BECAUSE COMMITMENT TO TREATMENT IDEOLOGY INFLUENCES INMATE AND STAFF BEHAVIOR, IT IS AN IMPORTANT FACTOR IN HELPING CORRECTIONAL PROGRAMS TOWARD TREATMENT GOALS RATHER THAN CUSTODIAL GOALS. REFERENCES ARE INCLUDED. (RCB)