ROLE CONFLICT IN CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTIONS - AN EMPIRICAL EXAMINATION OF THE TREATMENT-CUSTODY DILEMMA AMONG CORRECTIONAL STAFF

• NCJ Number: 66008
• Journal: Criminology Volume: 17 Issue: 4 Dated: (FEBRUARY 1980) Pages: 445-459
• Author(s): J R HEPBURN; C ALBONETTI
• Date Published: 1980
• Length: 15 pages
• Corporate Author: American Soc of Criminology
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

RESULTS ARE REPORTED FROM AN EMPIRICAL EXAMINATION OF THE TREATMENT-CUSTODY DILEMMA AMONG CORRECTIONAL STAFF.

Abstract

THE FOLLOWING HYPOTHESES WERE TESTED WITH QUESTIONNAIRE DATA OBTAINED FROM 336 TREATMENT AND CUSTODY PERSONNEL WITHIN 6 ADULT CORRECTIONAL FACILITIES: (1) ROLE CONFLICT IS SIGNIFICANTLY GREATER AMONG STAFF IN TREATMENT INSTITUTIONS THAN AMONG STAFF IN CUSTODY INSTITUTIONS; (2) ROLE CONFLICT IS SIGNIFICANTLY GREATER AMONG TREATMENT STAFF THAN AMONG CUSTODY STAFF; AND (3) ROLE CONFLICT IS SIGNIFICANTLY RELATED TO BOTH JOB SATISFACTION AND PUNITIVE ATTITUDES TOWARD INMATES. ALTHOUGH THE BIVARIATE ANALYSES PROVIDE SUPPORT FOR EACH HYPOTHESIS, SUBSEQUENT ANALYSES INDICATE THAT ROLE CONFLICT IS MORE LIKELY TO BE THE PRODUCT OF THE ORGANIZATIONAL GOALS OF THE INSTITUTION THAN OF THE TREATMENT OR CUSTODY STAFF POSITIONS WITHIN THOSE INSTITUTIONS. THE ASSOCIATION OF ROLE CONFLICT WITH SUCH DIMENSIONS AS ATTITUDES TOWARD THE ORGANIZATION, THE JOB, FOLLOW PERSONNEL, AND CLIENTS IS WORTHY OF FURTHER INVESTIGATION. THE DATA SUGGEST THAT ROLE CONFLICT IS A MAJOR SOURCE OF JOB DISSATISFACTION AND CONTRIBUTES TO PUNITIVE STAFF ATTITUDES. TABULAR DATA, NOTES, AND REFERENCES ARE PROVIDED. (RCB)