NCJ Number
170260
Journal
Prison Journal Volume: 77 Issue: 3 Dated: (September 1997) Pages: 313-334
Date Published
1997
Length
22 pages
Annotation
The attitudes of black and white correctional officers toward their own opportunities for job advancement and toward the opportunities available for minorities were studied using outcome and attitudinal data from correctional officers employed by the Federal Bureau of Prisons, an affirmative action employer.
Abstract
The research compared the perceptions of the correctional personnel with objective, aggregate data on job opportunities and job advancement. It tested two competing hypotheses for explaining the discrepancies in the perceptions of black and white correctional personnel. Results revealed that black and white correctional officers generally correctly assessed their own opportunities for job advancement. However, black and white officers displayed wide disagreement when surveyed about opportunities available for minorities. The white correctional officers tended to overestimate the opportunities for minorities. However, the research design did not permit determination of why white correctional officers exaggerated the opportunities available to minorities. Findings indicated the need for more research to address the theoretical and policy issues raised in this study, particularly the issue of the responses of formerly privileged groups as employment opportunities approach greater equity. Further research should also examine the movement of minorities and women into supervisory and managerial positions in the Federal Bureau of Prisons. Tables, notes, appended tables, and 20 references (Author abstract modified)