Impact of Punishment and Rehabilitation Views on Organizational Commitment Among Correctional Staff: A Preliminary Study

• NCJ Number: 227864
• Journal: American Journal of Criminal Justice Volume: 33 Issue: 1 Dated: Spring 2008 Pages: 85-98
• Author(s): Eric Lambert; Nancy Hogan; Shannon M. Barton; Shanhe Jiang; David N. Baker
• Date Published: 2008
• Length: 14 pages
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

Using data collected from 272 staff members of a Midwestern, high-security State prison, this study examined the influence of punishment and rehabilitation views of staff members on their organizational commitment.

Abstract

The study found that support for rehabilitation was associated with higher levels of organizational commitment, and support for punishment was linked to lower levels of organizational commitment. One of the primary reasons for this relationship is that one of the general goals of the State correctional agency, the surveyed facility in particular, was to provide treatment for confined offenders. These findings indicate that when hiring new employees, correctional administrators should focus on persons who support the rehabilitation of inmates and are seeking a correctional position out of a motivation to be part of the correctional rehabilitative effort. Out of approximately 400 staff surveyed in the fall of 2000, 272 usable surveys were returned (68-percent response rate). The respondents represented all areas of the facility, including correctional officers, case managers, medical staff, industry, staff, and food service workers. The survey obtained data on personal characteristics, work environments, and view on punishment and rehabilitation. Support for rehabilitation was measured with eight survey items. Respondents indicated levels of support for statements that indicated the importance of providing treatment and rehabilitation services for offenders, the expansion of rehabilitation programs currently in place, the need for more educational and vocational programming for inmates and the importance of staff having compassion for inmates. Support for punishment was measured with nine items that indicate levels of support for making prison life hard, the ineffectiveness and inappropriateness of treatment and rehabilitation programs for inmates, and the belief that line staff should not be involved in rehabilitative efforts. 2 tables and 60 references