NCJ Number
46429
Journal
Crime and Delinquency Volume: 24 Issue: 2 Dated: (APRIL 1978) Pages: 185-196
Date Published
1978
Length
12 pages
Annotation
A SURVEY OF THE BACKGROUNDS AND ATTITUDES OF 929 GUARDS IN ILLINOIS PRISONS IS DOCUMENTED.
Abstract
THE SURVEY QUESTIONNAIRE WAS ADMINISTERED AT ILLINOIS' CORRECTIONAL TRAINING ACADEMY BETWEEN JULY 1974 AND OCTOBER 1975. FINDINGS ARE PRESENTED WITH REGARD TO THE DEMOGRAPHIC CHARACTERISTICS OF THE GUARDS, THEIR ATTITUDES TOWARD THEIR JOBS, AND THEIR FEELINGS ABOUT IMPRISONMENT AND INMATES. THE DEMOGRAPHIC PROFILE SHOWS THAT GUARDS CONTINUE TO BE RECRUITED FROM THE LOWER LEVELS OF THE WORKFORCE, WITH VERY FEW HAVING BEEN EXPOSED TO HIGHER EDUCATION. THE GUARDS' ATTITUDES TOWARD INMATES AND IMPRISONMENT DO NOT SUPPORT THE STEREOTYPE OF GUARDS AS STERN OR BRUTAL DISCIPLINARIANS. MOST OF THE GUARDS EXPRESSED OPINIONS ABOUT THE CAUSES OF CRIME THAT PARALLEL THE LIBERAL, SOCIOPOLITICAL POSITION. RESPONSES TO SEVERAL QUESTIONS INDICATE THAT MINORITY GUARDS HAVE A MORE PUNITIVE ATTITUDE TOWARD INMATES THAN DO WHITE GUARDS. THE FINDINGS INDICATE WIDESPREAD DISSATISFACTION WITH PROMOTION POLICIES AS WELL AS STRAINS IN THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN LINE OFFICERS AND THEIR SUPERIORS. IMPLICATIONS OF THE SURVEY FINDINGS FOR PENAL PRACTICE AND POLICY ARE DISCUSSED, AND SUGGESTIONS FOR FUTURE RESEARCH ARE OFFERED. SUPPORTING TABULAR DATA ARE INCLUDED.