NCJ Number
56152
Journal
Criminal Justice and Behavior Volume: 6 Issue: 1 Dated: (MARCH 1979) Pages: 59-66
Date Published
1979
Length
8 pages
Annotation
THE ATTITUDES OF 235 CORRECTIONAL OFFICERS TOWARD INMATE TREATMENT PROGRAMS IN THE TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS ARE ANALYZED.
Abstract
THE OFFICERS--67.72 PERCENT OF A 20.5-PERCENT RANDOM SAMPLE OF ALL TEXAS CORRECTIONAL EMPLOYEES OF THE RANK OF LIEUTENANT OR BELOW--COMPLETED A 59-ITEM SCALE DESIGNED TO MEASURE THEIR ATTITUDES TOWARD TREATMENT. IN GENERAL THE OFFICERS' ATTITUDES WERE VERY POSITIVE. THE RESPONDENTS TENDED TO SEE THEMSELVES AS THE MOST IMPORTANT CONTRIBUTORS TO THE REHABILITATION OF INMATES. THE FOLLOWING FACTORS WERE ASSOCIATED WITH POSITIVE ATTITUDES TOWARD TREATMENT: HOLDING LOWER RANK, HAVING A HIGHER LEVEL OF EDUCATION, HAVING A SOURCE OF SUPPLEMENTAL INCOME, BEING RETIRED FROM MILITARY SERVICE, ATTENDING CHURCH REGULARLY, HAVING GROWN UP IN A LARGE COMMUNITY, BEING ASSIGNED TO INSIDE PICKET DUTY, AND BEING ORIENTED TOWARD A CORRECTIONS CAREER. OLDER OFFICERS ARE MORE LIKELY THAN YOUNGER OFFICERS TO HAVE POSITIVE ATTITUDES TOWARD TREATMENT. NEGATIVE ATTITUDES WERE ASSOCIATED WITH HAVING SERVED AS A CORRECTIONS OFFICER FOR A LONG TIME, BELIEVING THAT PUNISHMENT IS THE PRIMARY FUNCTION OF CORRECTIONS, AND VIEWING WORK AS MORE IMPORTANT THAN TREATMENT IN REHABILITATION. NO TABULAR DATA ARE PROVIDED. A LIST OF REFERENCES IS INCLUDED. (LKM)