NCJ Number
56067
Journal
Corrective and Social Psychiatry and Journal of Behavior Technology Methods and Therapy Volume: 25 Issue: 1 Dated: (1979) Pages: 6-14
Date Published
1979
Length
9 pages
Annotation
AN INSTRUMENT FOR USE IN EVALUATING THE PERFORMANCE OF CORRECTIONAL OFFICERS IS PRESENTED, AND TESTS OF THE INSTRUMENT'S RELIABILITY AND VALIDITY ARE REPORTED.
Abstract
THE CORRECTIONAL PERSONNEL RATING SCALE CONSISTS OF 69 STATEMENTS DEFINING DIFFERENT TYPES OF BEHAVIOR. THE SUPERVISOR USING THE SCALE TO ASSESS AN OFFICER INDICATES THE EXTENT TO WHICH EACH STATEMENT CORRESPONDS WITH THE OFFICER'S BEHAVIOR. THE SCALE WAS TESTED AT A MINIMUM SECURITY FACILITY FOR YOUNG ADULT OFFENDERS IN ONTARIO, CANADA, WHERE THE HEADS OF THE FACILITY'S 4 UNITS COMPLETED RATING SCALES FOR 22 CORRECTIONAL OFFICERS. RATINGS ON 20 OF THE OFFICERS WERE ALSO OBTAINED FROM SUPERVISORS WHO OVERSAW THE GENERAL OPERATION OF THE FACILITY. ON THE BASIS OF AN ANALYSIS OF THESE RATINGS, 46 OF THE 69 ITEMS ON THE SCALE WERE RETAINED. THESE 46 ITEMS FALL INTO 5 SUBSCALES THAT SEEM TO MEASURE SOMEWHAT DIFFERENT ASPECTS OF THE CORRECTIONAL OFFICER'S JOB. ALTHOUGH FURTHER REPLICATION IN OTHER CORRECTIONAL SETTINGS IS REQUIRED, THE INSTRUMENT APPEARS TO PROVIDE THE USER WITH A RATIONALLY DEVELOPED, EMPIRICALLY VALIDATED ALTERNATIVE TO MORE TRADITIONAL, SUBJECTIVE METHODS COMMONLY USED IN EVALUATING CORRECTIONAL OFFICERS. DETAILS OF THE ANALYSIS, SUPPORTING DATA, A COPY OF THE 69-ITEM SCALE, AND A LIST OF REFERENCES ARE PROVIDED. (LKM)