Role of Women in Male Federal Correctional Institutions (From American Correctional Association - Proceedings, P 275-281, 1981, Barbara Hadley Olsson and Ann Dargis, ed. - See NCJ-76771)

• NCJ Number: 76802
• Author(s): G L Ingram
• Date Published: 1981
• Length: 7 pages
• Sale Source: American Correctional Association
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

This paper reports the results of a survey of 250 Federal prison employees regarding the status and performance of female corrections officers in male Federal correctional institutions.

Abstract

Female staff in all-male Federal correctional institutions make up from 5 to 27 percent of the staff, with an average of 18 percent. Women constitute an average of 8 percent of the correctional force. The percentage of new female employees leaving their jobs has been somewhat higher than for males; however, job demands and work environment have not generally played a role in the decision of women to resign. Female employees are rated as about average in job performance, although good female employees tend to be overrated while problem female employees tend to be underrated. Both male and female employees agreed that women should not be assigned to traditionally designed maximum security institutions because of the type of inmates imprisoned there and the potential for serious confrontation in poorly designed areas not accessible to assistance. The actual number of serious assaults on female employees is not relatively greater than on males. Many male staff members indicated deep reservations about women working in all-male institutions. The survey identified such major staff concerns as the exclusion of women from duty when physical problems occur, excessive reliance on verbal control among female officers, underreporting of sexual harassment by inmates, lack of security consciousness among noncorrectional female staff, improper sexual involvement between staff members and between inmates and staff, the inability of some supervisors to handle emotionally loaded contacts with female staff, unintentional discrimination (such as the placement of observation windows too high above the floor for female officers' use), and inappropriate dress by both male and female (but especially female) staff. Additional training and supervision are recommended for female employees, along with more efficient use of women staff members.