NCJ Number
196762
Journal
Criminal Justice Volume: 2 Issue: 3 Dated: August 2002 Pages: 257-276
Date Published
August 2002
Length
20 pages
Annotation
The research discussed in this article focuses on the attitudes of Alaska Natives toward criminal justice careers, using Native focus group data to identify and describe specific preferences and perceptions that constitute barriers to greater recruitment of Alaska Natives.
Abstract
The data collected in this study were intended to contribute to a more comprehensive model of minority recruitment by allowing a better understanding of minority employment in terms of both majority discrimination and the preferences of minorities, moving beyond a majority-centered account of minority recruitment to include the attitudes and values of the targeted populations. It was found that members of some racial and ethnic groups, such as Alaskan Natives, still exhibited extremely disproportionate representation in justice system employment, with groups whose members were most likely to be directly subject to the power of the justice system, remaining least likely to play a strong role in wielding that power. Focus group interviews were held with 158 Alaska Natives who provided written and oral responses to structured and open-ended questions administered in group sessions lasting approximately 2 hours. The locations of the interview groups were chosen to reflect communities characterized by substantial opportunity for employment in the justice professions. Approximately 59 percent were women, with the average age being 35. Data collected indicated that Alaska Natives attitudes and values influenced their employment choices, such as the desire for opportunities to help others, a desire for work group harmony, and a need for a flexible work schedule. Participants were asked to describe their goals, characteristics of a desirable job, and attitude towards specific careers. In conclusion, it is anticipated that the data obtained in this study will aid in successful recruitment of Alaska Natives to criminal justice jobs and careers. References