NCJ Number
178140
Journal
Corrections Compendium Volume: 24 Issue: 6 Dated: June 1999 Pages: 1-31
Date Published
June 1999
Length
8 pages
Annotation
This article examines the effect of race and age on inmate perceptions of correctional staff.
Abstract
The following data were obtained from a survey administered during a 6-week period to 775 men just released from incarceration (“exmates”) in the Texas Department of Criminal Justice-Institutional Division. Younger men had more problems with correctional staff; believed staff treated inmates in an inhumane fashion; felt new officers were less qualified than in the past; felt they were not well-treated in prison; believed there were not enough officers to ensure inmate safety; and believed that correctional officers used more force than was necessary. The relationship between race and perception of inmate-staff relations turned up as statistically significant on only one item: “Prison officers often use too much force on inmates.” Black exmates were more likely than white exmates to agree with the statement. Hispanic exmates had a mean score close to the black exmates but it was not statistically significant relative to white exmates. Tables, references