ADMINISTRATIVE DEMANDS AS IMPEDIMENTS TO TREATMENT IN CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTIONS (FROM REFORM IN CORRECTIONS PROBLEMS AND ISSUES, 1977, BY HARRY E ALLEN AND NANCY J BERAN - SEE NCJ-46620)

• NCJ Number: 46630
• Author(s): M POGREBIN
• Date Published: 1977
• Length: 10 pages
• Corporate Author: Praeger Publishers
• Publication Format: Document
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

THIS ANALYSIS OF RELEVANT LITERATURE EXAMINES THE ROLE CONFLICT OF CORRECTIONAL OFFICERS DUE TO THE AMBIGUITY OF CUSTODY-TREATMENT EXPECTATIONS.

Abstract

THE DISCUSSION FOCUSES ON THE ADMINISTRATOR'S ROLE IN FULFILLING HIS CUSTODIAL REPONSIBILITIES AND THE EXTENT TO WHICH ADMINISTRATIVE DEMANDS CAUSE ROLE CONFLICT FOR THE TREATMENT-ORIENTED OFFICER. EXTERNAL PRESSURES FROM THE PUBLIC, IT IS ARGUED, PLACE ADMINISTRATORS OF CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTIONS IN SUCH A POSITION THAT THEY HAVE NO ALTERNATIVE BUT TO SEPARATE TREATMENT AND CUSTODIAL RESPONSIBILITIES. THE RESULTING DUAL AUTHORITY STRUCTURE CREATES AMBIGUOUS AND CONFLICTING ROLE DEFINITIONS FOR CORRECTIONAL OFFICERS, AND THE ABSENCE OF CLEAR-CUT PRIORITIES IN THE ORGANIZATION'S OBJECTIVES LEAVE DECISIONMAKING TO THE OFFICERS' DISCRETION. THE IMAGE AN OFFICER HAS, BOTH OF HIMSELF AND IN THE EYES OF OTHERS, IS CONTROLLED BY THE DEGREE OF CONFLICT THAT EXISTS BETWEEN HIS PERCEPTION OF HIS ROLE AS EITHER TREATMENT OR CONTROL PERSON. IN THE PRISON'S INFORMAL ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE, INMATE-GUARD RELATIONS CAN BECOME CHARACTERIZED BY COMPLEX PATTERNS OF DEPENDENCE AND ACCOMMODATION. IT IS SUGGESTED THAT THE FAILURE TO RESOLVE THE DILEMMA OF CONFLICT MAY DERIVE FROM THE TENDENCY OF ADMINISTRATORS TO VIEW CONFLICT AS AN INDIVIDUAL MATTER RATHER THAN AN ORGANIZATIONAL PROBLEM. PERCEIVING CONFLICT AS AN ORGANIZATIONAL MATTER WOULD ADMIT A DIVERSITY OF GOALS IN THE ORGANIZATION, THEREBY PLACING STRAINS ON THE STATUS AND AUTHORITY OF THE SYSTEMS OF POWER. (RCB)