NCJ Number
67591
Date Published
1978
Length
16 pages
Annotation
THE RESULTS OF A SURVEY OF MALE AND FEMALE CORRECTIONAL OFFICERS' PERCEPTIONS OF THEIR ROLES, DUTIES, AND RELATIONSHIPS WITH FELLOW OFFICERS AND THEIR VIEWS OF THEIR WORK ENVIRONMENT ARE REPORTED.
Abstract
TWENTY-ONE CORRECTIONS OFFICERS RETURNED USABLE QUESTIONNAIRES. A TOTAL OF 55 PERCENT OF THE FEMALE OFFICERS WERE UNSATISFIED WITH THEIR JOB DUTIES. BOTH MALE AND FEMALE OFFICERS (95 PERCENT OF THE GROUP) FELT THAT SEX WAS A SOURCE OF JOB DISCRIMINATION. WHILE 91 PERCENT OF THE PARTICIPANTS INDICATED THAT A CORRECTIONAL OFFICER'S JOB IS SOMEWHAT THREATENING, 61 PERCENT FELT THAT FEMALE OFFICERS ARE LESS ABLE TO HANDLE THREATENING SITUATIONS THAN MALE OFFICERS. FEMALE OFFICERS WERE MORE STRONGLY CONVINCED THAT PHYSICAL STRENGTH WAS AN IMPORTANT JOB PERFORMANCE CRITERIA. NONE OF THE OFFICERS EXPRESSED A PREFERENCE FOR WORKING WITH FEMALE OFFICERS, 9 PREFERRED TO WORK WITH MALES, AND 11 HAD NO PREFERENCE. FEMALE OFFICERS PREFERRING TO WORK WITH MALES LISTED SECURITY AND COOPERATION AS REASONS. MALES PREFERRED TO WORK WITH OTHER MALE OFFICERS BECAUSE OF SECURITY FACTORS. BOTH MALE AND FEMALE OFFICERS FELT THAT WOMEN SHOULD BE INCLUDED ON THE CORRECTIONAL OFFICER STAFF. TABULAR DATA AND A COPY OF THE QUESTIONNAIRE INCLUDED.