Staff Stress in Contemporary Jails: Assessing Problem Severity and the Payoff of Progressive Personnel Practices

• NCJ Number: 150740
• Journal: Journal of Criminal Justice Volume: 22 Issue: 4 Dated: (1994) Pages: 313- 327
• Author(s): M K Stohr; N P Lovrich; G L Wilson
• Date Published: 1994
• Length: 15 pages
• Sponsoring Agency: National Institute of Corrections
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Research (Applied/Empirical)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

This study was conducted to determine if the presence of a high level of workplace stress among carefully recruited and monitored personnel could jeopardize the long- term return on selection and training resources invested in employees of podular, direct supervision jails.

Abstract

Study sites containing medium-sized urban area facilities were selected across the United States to ensure that generalizations made about stress levels in podular, direct supervision jails were applicable across a wide range of geographic settings. Research was accomplished using a personnel survey and an organizational profile form. Findings from five jails demonstrated that stress was a serious problem in all facilities. Average stress levels among correctional officers and support staff were at or approaching dangerous levels. Some jail facilities, however, managed stressful workplace conditions more effectively than others. Stress management was accomplished by developing model personnel and management practices featuring fair compensation, employee development, participative management, and employee improvement. 19 references, 2 notes, and 8 tables