NCJ Number
59183
Date Published
1977
Length
26 pages
Annotation
A REPRESENTATIVE SAMPLE OF CORRECTIONAL OFFICERS OF THE GUELPH CORRECTIONAL CENTRE IN ONTARIO, CANADA, CONCURRED WITH THE OFFICIAL MINISTRY PHILOSOPHY THAT REHABILITATION IN CORRECTIONS IS IMPORTANT.
Abstract
FOCUS OF THE STUDY WAS SPECIFICALLY ON ATTITUDES CONCERNING CORRECTIONS IN GENERAL AND THE ROLE OF INDUSTRIAL PROGRAMS. SIXTY CORRECTIONAL OFFICERS REPRESENTING 38.2 PERCENT OF THE CORRECTIONAL STAFF WERE RANDOMLY SELECTED TO PARTICIPATE IN THE STUDY. EACH PARTICIPANT WAS GIVEN A SEMISTRUCTURED INTERVIEW 3 MONTHS AFTER THE START OF THE ABATTOIR PROGRAMS AND 8 MONTHS LATER TO OBTAIN OFFICERS' PERCEPTIONS, ATTITUDES, AND PREDICTIONS WITH REGARD TO BOTH THE CONCEPT AND THE PROGRAM. DESCRIPTIVE AND INFERENTIAL STATISTICS WERE EMPLOYED IN THE ANALYSIS OF THE STAFF DATA. FREQUENCIES AND PERCENTAGES PROVIDED AN OUTLINE OF STAFF ATTITUDES. RELATED T-TESTS PROVIDED INFORMATION ON THE SIGNIFICANCE OF ANY DIFFERENCES AND CHANGES IN ATTITUDES. RESULTS SHOWED THAT REHABILITATION FOR INMATES WAS REGARDED AS THE MOST LIKELY IMPACT OF INNOVATIVE INDUSTRIAL PROGRAMS SUCH AS THE ABATTOIR PROGRAMME. MINISTRY-MANAGED INDUSTRIAL PROGRAMS WERE VIEWED AS IMPORTANT COMPONENTS OF CORRECTIONAL PROGRAMMING BUT AS FALLING SHORT OF GOALS. THE PROGRAMS WERE CRITICIZED FOR LACK OF ADEQUATE STAFF AND FACILITIES, POOR MANAGEMENT AND POOR INCENTIVES. A MAJORITY OF OFFICERS INDICATED THAT INMATES ARE CAPABLE OF WORK AT LEVELS DEMANDED BY PRIVATE INDUSTRY. MOST OFFICERS ALSO STRESSED THE NEED FOR CONCOMITANT INCREASES IN REMUNERATION INDICATING THAT HIGHER INMATE WAGES WOULD IMPROVE FAMILY FINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITY, WORK HABITS, AND WORK ATTITUDES. THE RESULTS OF THE STUDY CLEARLY INDICATE STAFF ENDORSEMENT AND ENCOURAGEMENT OF BOTH THE ABATTOIR PROGRAMME AND THE GENERAL CONCEPT OF EXTERNALLY MANGAED INDUSTRIAL PROGRAMS. TABULAR DATA AND REFERENCES ACCOMPANY THE ARTICLE. FOR FURTHER EVALUATIONS SEE NCJ 59184-59185. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED--MJW)