NCJ Number
43552
Date Published
1977
Length
137 pages
Annotation
THIS REPORT PRESENTS THE EVALUATION OF ALL PHASES OF THE VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS TRAINING PROGRAM AND DETAILS BACKGROUND AND METHODS OF THE PROJECT.
Abstract
THE EVALUATION WAS DESIGNED TO TEST THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE ADULT DIVISION TRAINING CENTER, VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS. THE CORRECTIONAL OFFICERS PARTICIPATING IN THE LEGISLATIVELY MANDATED TRAINING PROGRAM WERE TESTED AT THE BEGINNING AND COMPLETION OF THEIR PARTICIPATION BETWEEN 1974 AND 1976. VARIABLES ADDRESSED IN THE DATA COLLECTION INCLUDED DEMOGRAPHIC DATA; ATTITUDES TOWARD EDUCATION AND TRAINING; CORRECTIONAL KNOWLEDGE; AND ATTITUDES TOWARD PRISON, PUNISHMENT, AND SELF/OTHERS. THE SUBJECTS QUESTIONED INCLUDED BOTH RELATIVELY NEW EMPLOYEES AND MORE EXPERIENCED EMPLOYEES. ATTITUDES AND KNOWLEDGE LEVELS DIFFERED RELATIVE TO MOST DEMOGRAPHIC CATEGORIES; THE TRAINING PROGRAM, HOWEVER, SEEMED TO PRODUCE A 'LEVELING' EFFECT RESULTING IN A REDUCTION OF INITIAL DIFFERENCES. AGE AND EDUCATIONAL LEVELS WERE IDENTIFIED AS CRUCIAL VARIABLES. THE YOUNGER AND BETTER EDUCATED SUBJECTS DISPLAYED MORE KNOWLEDGE ABOUT CORRECTIONS, MORE POSITIVE RESPONSES TO TRAINING AND EDUCATION, AND WERE LESS PUNITIVE. THE TRAINING PROGRAM RECEIVED A VERY HIGH RATING. IT IS NOTED THAT THE BASIC TRAINING PROGRAM FOR CORRECTIONAL OFFICERS SHOULD BE RETAINED AND THAT A MODIFIED EVALUATION OF THE BASIC PROGRAM SHOULD CONTINUE. THE REPORT INCLUDES REFERENCES AND APPENDIXES (EVALUATION QUESTIONNAIRES, ITEMIZED OPEN-ENDED COMMENTS OF TRAINEES, TRAINING CENTER SCHEDULE, AND COMPARATIVE ATTITUDINAL DATA).