CORRECTIONAL STAFF DEVELOPMENT IN VIRGINIA - A TENTATIVE EVALUATION

• NCJ Number: 53962
• Author(s): R J SCOTT; R EVANS; B KECK
• Date Published: 1977
• Length: 22 pages
• Sale Source: National Institute of Justice/
• Publication Type: Program/Project Evaluation
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: PRESENTED AT THE NATIONAL CONFERENCE ON CRIMINAL JUSTICE EVALUATION, WASHINGTON, DC, FEBRUARY 1977 - PANEL 19 EVALUATION OF EDUCATION AND TRAINING PROGRAMS

Annotation

CHANGES IN ATTITUDES AND KNOWLEDGE ARE RELATED TO DEMOGRAPHIC CHARACTERISTICS OF TRAINEES IN AN EVALUATION OF VIRGINIA'S 4-WEEK TRAINING COURSE FOR CORRECTIONAL OFFICERS.

Abstract

THE TRAINING PROGRAM EVALUATED CONSISTED OF 160 HOURS AND INVOLVED OVER 30 TOPICS COVERING CORRECTIONAL HISTORY AND PROGRAMMING, THE VIRGINIA CORRECTIONAL SYSTEM, CRIMINAL BEHAVIOR AND THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM, THE JUVENILE OFFENDER, SECURITY POLICIES, AND LEGAL ISSUES RELATED TO CORRECTIONS, AS WELL AS SKILL AREAS SUCH AS COMMUNICATIONS, REPORT WRITING, SELF-DEFENSE, FIREARMS TRAINING, AND RIOT CONTROL TRAINING. THE EVALUATION, CONDUCTED BETWEEN APRIL 1974, AND DECEMBER 1975, CONSISTED OF PRETESTING AND POSTTESTING 380 TRAINEES TO MEASURE ATTITUDE AND KNOWLEDGE CHANGE AS A RESULT OF THE TRAINING. ADDITIONALLY, CHANGES WERE RELATED TO THE DEMOGRAPHIC CHARACTERISTICS OF THE TRAINEES. ATTITUDINAL ASSESSMENT INCLUDED MEASURES OF ATTITUDES TOWARD PUNISHMENT, PRISONS, SELF, AND OTHERS, SELECTED BECAUSE OF PRIOR USE IN CORRECTIONAL TRAINING EVALUATIONS. JOB SATISFACTION WAS ASSESSED BY A SINGLE QUESTION. CORRECTIONAL KNOWLEDGE ASSESSMENT INCLUDED A 30-ITEM TEST DEVISED FROM TESTS GIVEN AS PART OF THE ACTUAL TRAINING. DEMOGRAPHIC DATA, COLLECTED AS PART OF THE PRETEST INCLUDED AGE, SEX, RACE, MARITAL STATUS, EDUCATION, MILITARY EXPERIENCE, INSTITUTIONAL ASSIGNMENT, LENGTH OF TIME EMPLOYED, PRIOR TRAINING AND WORK EXPERIENCE, AND SIZE OF CHILDHOOD COMMUNITY. RESULTS SHOWED LITTLE OVERALL ATTITUDINAL CHANGE DURING THE 4-WEEK TRAINING PERIOD, ALTHOUGH TRAINEES DID BECOME SIGNIFICANTLY LESS PUNITIVE. THERE WAS, HOWEVER, A DRAMATIC IMPROVEMENT IN CORRECTIONAL RELATED KNOWLEDGE. TRAINEES TYPICALLY EXPRESSED VERY POSITIVE ATTITUDES TOWARD THE TRAINING. EDUCATION AND AGE WERE THE DEMOGRAPHIC VARIABLES MOST INFLUENTIAL ON ATTITUDES AND KNOWLEDGE MEASURED IN THE PRETEST, WITH BETTER EDUCATED STAFF BEING LESS PUNITIVE, LESS FAVORABLE TOWARD PRISONS, MORE FAVORABLE TOWARD THEMSELVES, MORE KNOWLEDGEABLE ABOUT CORRECTIONS, LESS SATISFIED WITH THEIR JOBS, AND MORE CONSCIOUS OF THE NEED FOR ADDITIONAL EDUCATION. YOUNGER TRAINEES WERE LESS PUNITIVE AND LESS FAVORABLE TOWARD PRISONS. IT IS BELIEVED THE EVALUATION EVIDENCE SUPPORTS THE CONCLUSION THAT THE TRAINING PROGRAM IS EFFECTIVE. RECOMMENDATIONS FOR IMPROVEMENT ARE OFFERED. STATISTICS DERIVED FROM THE STUDY ARE PROVIDED, AND REFERENCES ARE LISTED.