NCJ Number
35489
Journal
Criminal Justice and Behavior Volume: 3 Issue: 2 Dated: (JUNE 1976) Pages: 187-196
Date Published
1976
Length
10 pages
Annotation
REPORT ON A STUDY CONDUCTED TO DETERMINE THE INFLUENCE OF SELF-PERCEPTIONS OF PRISON GUARDS ON THEIR SOCIAL ROLE AND THE EXTENT TO WHICH THESE SELF-PERCEPTIONS WERE SIMILAR.
Abstract
THIRTY-TWO PRISON GUARDS AT THE INDIANA STATE PRISON IN MICHIGAN CITY, INDIANA, WERE THE SUBJECTS OF THIS STUDY. REPRESENTING ABOUT ONE-FOURTH OF THE CUSTODIAL FORCE IN THIS CLASSIFICATION, THEY RANGED IN AGE FROM 27-54 YEARS AND IN SERVICE FROM TWO TO 18 YEARS. EACH SUBJECT WAS INTERVIEWED INDIVIDUALLY IN A PRIVATE OFFICE OF THE INSTITUTION. RESULTS INDICATED THAT THE SELF-PERCEIVED VARIABLES IN THE GUARD'S SOCIAL ROLE WERE INTEGRATION, PERSONAL, SOCIAL DISTANCE, KNOWLEDGE, REHABILITATION/ COERCIVENESS, AND CUSTODIAL CARE, 'INTEGRATION' INTO THE CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTION IS DEFINED AS THE COMBINATION OF SEVERAL ACTIONS FOR FUNCTIONAL EFFECTIVENESS, 'PERSONAL' AS INTEREST AND CONCERN IN THEIR RELATION TO THE INMATES, AND 'SOCIAL DISTANCE' AS LIMITED COMMUNICATION AND INTERACTION, BUT NOT INTIMATE ASSOCIATION WITH INMATES. IT IS SUGGESTED THAT SUCH EXPECTATIONS OF THE OCCUPATIONAL ROLE MIGHT BE EXPECTED TO DELIMIT ROLE PERFORMANCE AND THUS TO INCREASE OR DECREASE ROLE CONFLICT WITH THE INSTITUTION. REFERENCES ARE INCLUDED.