NCJ Number
95336
Journal
Australian and New Zealand Journal of Criminology Volume: 17 Issue: 2 Dated: (June 1984) Pages: 87-94
Date Published
1984
Length
8 pages
Annotation
A survey of 284 prison guards in 14 institutions operated by the Western Australia Prisons Department revealed that the level of custodial control influenced guards' attitudes, with officers in maximum-security prisons being more custodial-oriented and more hostile toward the inmates than those in minimum-security facilities.
Abstract
The guards surveyed were from maximum-, medium-, and low-security prisons; as well as an assessment center; an inebriates' institution; and a women's medium-security prison. Similar attitudes were found in three groups -- maximum- security staff, women's prison staff, and medium- and low- security staff -- but attitudes among the groups were significantly different. Officers in maximum- security institutions had a much more custodial view of their job and more negative stereotyping of inmates. They were more likely to perceive themselves in conflict with inmates and a little more antagonistic toward psychologists and psychiatrists. Staff in the mediumand low-security institutions were more treatment-oriented and perceived less need for disciplinary control over inmates. They placed more emphasis on occupational training and education. The staff at the women's prison, who were all female, were more treatment-oriented than staff at male prisons, but also felt a greater need to maintain discipline. This discipline, however, was viewed as a means of furthering rehabilitation rather than just institutional control. These findings indicate that the further an institution can reduce the level of custodial control and associated deprivation, the lower staff-inmate conflicts are likely to be. Moreover, guards may then receive some positive job satisfactions. Tables, 1 figure, and 20 references are supplied.