NCJ Number
213054
Journal
Journal of Contemporary Criminal Justice Volume: 22 Issue: 1 Dated: February 2006 Pages: 4-25
Date Published
February 2006
Length
22 pages
Annotation
This study explored perceptions of the corrections organizational environment, the influence of such perceptions on reported levels of correctional officer stress, and the way in which sources of stress varied by gender.
Abstract
Findings conclude that there are few differences between male and female correctional officers in regards to the effects of workplace stressors on levels of job stress. The factor that proved to have the most impact on stress for both male and female officers was work-family conflict. Given the complex and unique context of the correctional setting, correctional officers encounter a variety of stressors. Utilizing a self-administered Quality of Work Life survey of over 9,000 employed staff from 10 adult prisons in a Southwestern State, the study examined multiple sources of stress and assessed their influence on male and female officers’ reported levels of job stress. The Quality of Work Life survey was part of the department of corrections’ effort to assess employee perceptions of the prison work environment. Tables, appendix, references