NCJ Number
184721
Journal
International Journal of Offender Therapy and Comparative Criminology Volume: 44 Issue: 4 Dated: August 2000 Pages: 431-449
Date Published
August 2000
Length
19 pages
Annotation
This descriptive study systematically examined types of correctional officers across four dimensions: orientation toward rule enforcement, orientation toward negotiation or exchange with inmates, extent of norms of mutual obligation toward co-workers, and interest in human service delivery.
Abstract
The study was conducted at two correctional institutions in two medium-sized cities in a midwestern State. One institution was located in a primarily urban area in the southeastern region of the State, and the other facility was located in a rural area in the northern part. The primary data-gathering technique involved interviews with 79 correctional officers. In-depth interviews were conducted at the two correctional institutions and at alternative sites. Archival data, including annual reports union contracts, officer job descriptions, facility descriptions, training manuals, policy and procedure manuals, and the inmate rule book were other important data sources for the final analysis. The interviews focused on officers' approaches to the job and what they perceived as officer styles. A typology was constructed from the interviews. The data revealed distinct and varied types of officer job approaches. "Rule enforcers," "hard liners," and "loners" promoted organizational official goals, values, and modes of conduct. "People workers" and "synthetic officers" modified formal definitions and imperatives as they developed their own norms, values, and ways of doing the job. Other types of officers identified by respondents either rejected or ignored the official organizational goals. 3 tables, 5 notes, and 14 references