NCJ Number
177218
Date Published
1998
Length
196 pages
Annotation
This text offers a comprehensive, timely, and issue-oriented perspective on the changing nature of correctional officer careers and outlines principles upon which correctional practices have evolved over time.
Abstract
The text is designed to enlighten students on the nature of the corrections profession and to provide information about career development options to correctional administrators, management personnel, and line and staff supervisors. In addition, the nature and scope of the text provide valuable source materials for officials and policy-makers at various levels of public service. Recognizing that correctional systems need to meet a broad range of needs in their continuing efforts to upgrade correctional officer performance and that scarce resources in the face of increased inmate populations often defeat these goals, the text focuses on personnel, management, and organizational issues. The section on personnel issues considers personnel recruitment and selection, preservice and inservice training, education, and career development. The section on management and organizational issues covers civil liability, changing trends in the corrections field, special populations, organization-related role conflicts, technological change, and future concerns. The authors offer recommendations on how to improve correctional personnel development and describe relevant model programs. References and tables