NCJ Number
131889
Journal
Criminal Justice and Behavior Volume: 18 Issue: 3 Dated: (September 1991) Pages: 304-317
Date Published
1991
Length
14 pages
Annotation
A study of male and female prisoners and staff at the Orange County, Florida Division of Corrections was conducted regarding cross gender supervision of prisoners in private functions and its potential for producing institutional conflict.
Abstract
Three hundred thirty-six officers and 300 inmates responded to surveys on demographic and general information questions as well as specific questions on perceptions of the consequences of cross-gender supervising. The categories of consequences included inmate complains, management and security, and the potential of violence. Many more female prisoners than male prisoners rejected the notion of cross-gender supervision. In particular they distinguished between general supervision and supervision that involved routine observation of inmates in showers or engaged in private bodily functions and perceived the latter situation would promote stress and negative reactions, perhaps violence. Although the results revealed some interesting variations in responses, a general pattern indicated that the prisoners more frequently than officers expected the intrusive supervision to promote complaints, security problems, and violence. Except for violence, most officers of both sexes expected negative consequences. 3 tables and 28 references (Author abstract modified)