NCJ Number
188981
Journal
Corrections Compendium Volume: 26 Issue: 3 Dated: March 2001 Pages: 6-22
Date Published
March 2001
Length
17 pages
Annotation
A survey that received responses from 43 State corrections systems collected information on correctional officers’ ethnic backgrounds, recruitment, turnover, and fringe benefits, as well as comparisons for staff support positions in secretarial, clerical, library, food service, and recreation work.
Abstract
Results revealed that a correctional officer’s average age is 29.66 years and that 76.8 percent of correctional officers are male and 23.2 percent are female. Caucasian correctional officers range from 18 percent in Mississippi to 98 percent in Montana and North Dakota. Annual starting salaries are lower than $20,000 in some States and from $33,708 to $38,988 in other States. Recruitment occurs mainly within States or in bordering States. Disparity in information prevents making a comparative average turnover rate for all systems. Competition with local law enforcement agencies was the main reason for turnover, followed by low wages and poor working conditions. Fringe benefits include cost-of-living increases, merit increases, paid holidays, vacations, sick days, personal days, retirement benefits, healthcare, dental care, disability benefits, life insurance policies, and other options. Responses from support staff regarding recruitment and turnover were similar to those for correctional officers. Tables displaying State-by-State results