NCJ Number
67765
Date Published
1979
Length
117 pages
Annotation
A DESCRIPTIVE STUDY OF ATTITUDES AND PERCEPTIONS OF 51 CORRECTIONAL OFFICERS BEFORE AND AFTER 10 MONTHS OF EMPLOYMENT AT THE PENNSYLVANIA REGIONAL CORRECTIONAL FACILITY SHOWS A SHIFT IN REHABILITATION PHILOSOPHY.
Abstract
ALTHOUGH THE STUDY FOCUSES ON THE 51 CORRECTIONAL OFFICERS THAT WERE IN THE TRAINING CLASS BEFORE THE FACILITY OPENED IN 1978, 40 OTHER NEW EMPLOYEES IN VARIOUS CATEGORIES ARE INCLUDED FOR COMPARISON. WHILE THE MAJORITY OF TRAINEES IN BOTH THE FIRST AND SECOND PHASES INDICATED THAT THEY 'PREFERRED THE RE-EDUCATION OF THE INMATE,' AS OPPOSED TO MORE PUNISHMENT, THE PERCENTAGE INCREASED SUBSTANTIALLY AFTER EMPLOYMENT AS GUARDS. THERE WAS A SLIGHT PERCENTAGE DECLINE IN THOSE 'STRONGLY OPPOSED TO PUNISHMENT.' NOT ONE OFFICER INDICATED A NEUTRAL FEELING TOWARD PUNISHMENT AFTER EMPLOYMENT, WHEREAS 15 PERCENT WERE NEUTRAL BEFORE TRAINING. WHEN QUESTIONED DIRECTLY, 61 PERCENT FAVORED SOME PUNISHMENT AND 9 PERCENT SEVERE PUNISHMENT. A TOTAL OF 90.32 PERCENT FAVORED CAPITAL PUNISHMENT, 3.22 PERCENT (ONLY 1 OFFICER) WERE OPPOSED, AND 6.45 PERCENT WERE NOT SURE. BEFORE EMPLOYMENT, TWO-THIRDS BELIEVED REHABILITATION SHOULD BE THE PRINCIPAL AIM OF IMPRISONMENT; AFTER EMPLOYMENT, 42 PERCENT BELIEVED IT SHOULD BE THE PROTECTION OF SOCIETY. THERE WERE TWO OPINIONS ON THE EFFECTIVENESS OF REHABILITATION: 54 PERCENT CALLED PRISON REHABILITATION SOMEWHAT EFFECTIVE, 45 PERCENT SAID REHABILITATION DEPENDED ON THE OFFENDER'S OWN INITIATIVE. TABLES PRESENT THE STUDY STATISTICS. COPIES OF THE SURVEY INSTRUMENTS, TRANSCRIPTS OF INTERVIEWS, AND COMMENTS ARE INCLUDED. ABI GLR