NCJ Number
155677
Journal
Corrections Today Volume: 57 Issue: 3 Dated: (June 1995) Pages: 96-99
Date Published
1995
Length
4 pages
Annotation
As the inmate population increases its minority population, hiring a diverse correctional staff, including people of color, can enhance communication between staff and inmates, add to the cultural awareness of staff, decrease racial tension, provide positive role models, and enhance a department's public image.
Abstract
Nevertheless, administrators proposing targeted recruitment based on color will have to address some staff concerns: that minority staff would tend to identify with inmates based on race, that hiring staff of color could increase interstaff conflict, that unqualified applicants will be attracted to the job, and that targeted recruitment is unpopular with majority staff members. Some ways to approach targeted recruitment include identifying sources of the targeted group, communicating with the group through job fairs and advertisements, and developing an effective message explaining the value of a career in corrections. After hiring staff of color, corrections officials can help retrain good employees by forming a cultural diversity committee to help staff members, creating a mentoring program, and initiating cross-training programs. 4 references