RELATIONSHIP OF POSITION, INSTITUTION AND SELECTED VARIABLES TO ROLE EXPECTATIONS OF CORRECTIONAL OFFICERS AND PERCEPTIONS OF THEIR INSTITUTIONAL ENVIRONMENT

• NCJ Number: 63051
• Author(s): M D LANE
• Date Published: 1977
• Length: 136 pages
• Sale Source: UMI Dissertation Services
• Publication Type: Thesis/Dissertation
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: SPECIAL PRICES FOR ACADEMIC INSTITUTIONS. UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA - DOCTORAL DISSERTATION

Annotation

BASED ON THE ROLE PERCEPTION OF CORRECTIONAL OFFICERS BY SUCH OFFICERS AND STAFF MEMBERS, THIS STUDY DETERMINES WHICH FACTORS INFLUENCE THE EXPECTED BEHAVIOR OF OFFICERS.

Abstract

DATA WERE GATHERED BETWEEN MAY 2, AND JUNE 21, 1977 BY MEANS OF A QUESTIONNAIRE SUBMITTED TO 312 OFFICERS, SUPERVISORS, TREATMENT STAFF, AND ADMINISTRATORS AT THREE MAJOR VIRGINIA CORRECTIONS INSTITUTIONS FOR MALES. THE QUESTIONNAIRE SOLICITED PERSONAL AND JOB-RELATED INFORMATION AND CONTAINED THE EXPECTED ROLE SCALE (ERS) AND A CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTIONS ENVIRONMENT SCALE (CIES). THE ERS WAS DESIGNED TO MEASURE PERCEPTIONS OF THE EXPECTED BEHAVIOR OF CORRECTIONAL OFFICERS, DEFINING ROLE AS A SET OF EXPECTIONS IN RELATIONSHIPS WITH PEERS, SUPERVISORS, TREATMENT STAFF, AND INMATES. THE MAJOR DIMENSIONS MEASURED WERE CUSTODY AND TREATMENT BEHAVIORS. THE CIES MEASURED THE BASIC DIMENSIONS OF ORGANIZATIONAL CLIMATE IN THE CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTIONS. RESPONSE WERE ANALYZED THROUGH THE USE OF VARIOUS STATISTICAL METHODS. RESULTS INDICATE THAT ROLE EXPECTATIONS OF THE CORRECTIONAL OFFICER ARE RELATED TO STAFF POSITION AND NOT TO TYPE OF INSTITUTION. ALTHOUGH RESPONDENTS AGREED TO THE INCLUSION OF BOTH CUSTODY AND TREATMENT BEHAVIORS IN THE OFFICERS' ROLES, SECURITY STAFF MEMBERS PLACED MORE EMPHASIS ON GUARDS' CUSTODIAL BEHAVIORS THAN DID ADMINISTRATORS. SECURITY STAFF EXPECT GUARDS TO WORK INDEPENDENTLY, WHEREAS ADMINISTRATORS HOPE FOR COLLABORATION. POSITIVE EVALUATION OF THE INSTITUTIONAL CLIMATE IS CORRELATIVE WITH THE HIERARCHICAL STRUCTURE OF THE CORRECTIONS SYSTEM, WITH TOP ADMINISTRATORS RATING THEIR OPERATIONS FAVORABLY. PERCEPTIONS OF THE ENVIRONMENT VARIED AMONG INSTITUTIONS. THE INSTITUTION NOTED FOR ITS 'TREATMENT ORIENTATION' WAS RATED MORE POSITIVELY BY ITS STAFF. WHEN OFFICERS DO NOT EXPECT TO BEHAVE INDEPENDENTLY, THEY HAVE MORE POSITIVE PERCEPTIONS OF TREATMENT PROGRAMS, PERSONNEL RELATIONSHIPS, AND ORGANIZATIONAL CONTROL. OTHER INFLUENTIAL FACTORS ARE THE OFFICERS' LENGTH OF SERVICE IN CORRECTIONS AND THEIR EDUCATIONAL BACKGROUNDS. THERE IS MORE EMPHASIS ON THE CUSTODIAL ASPECTS OF THE ROLE AMONG LONG-TERM EMPLOYEES AND THOSE WITH LESS EDUCATION. IMPLICATIONS OF THESE FINDINGS ON FUTURE TRAINING PROGRAMS FOR CORRECTIONAL OFFICERS ARE NOTED, AND A LITERATURE REVIEW EXAMINES THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE ROLE CONCEPT. FOOTNOTES, CHARTS, AND TABULAR DATA ARE INCLUDED. THE QUESTIONNAIRE AND RELATED INFORMATION ARE APPENDED. (MRK)