NCJ Number
37403
Date Published
1972
Length
59 pages
Annotation
FINAL EVALUATION OF A PROJECT ESTABLISHED TO TRAIN NEW CORRECTIONAL OFFICERS AT AN EXPANDED FACILITY TO BE MORE TREATMENT-ORIENTED WHILE UNDERSTANDING AND ADHERING TO STATE DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS POLICIES AND PROCEDURES.
Abstract
THE PROJECT INCLUDED THREE TRAINING SESSIONS INVOLVING FOUR WEEKS OF INTENSIVE CLASSROOM TRAINING AND TWO OF ON-THE-JOB TRAINING. TWO SCALES WERE USED TO OBTAIN A SPECIFIC MEASURE OF ATTITUDES OF MAJOR IMPORTANCE TO THE CORRECTIONAL OFFICER - ATTITUDES TOWARD PRISON BEHAVIOR (PB) AND ATTITUDES TOWARD PUNISHMENT OF CRIMINALS (ATPC). THE PB SCALE IS DESIGNED TO SHOW THE EXTENT TO WHICH GROUP NORMS FAVOR STAFF INTEREST AND AID TO INMATES; ATPC IS CONCERNED WITH THE PURPOSE OF AND APPROPRIATE USE OF PUNISHMENT. MEAN SCORES FOR BOTH SCALES WERE COMPARED FOR PRE- AND POST-TRAINING TESTING AND CROSSTABULATED WITH CERTAIN SOCIAL CHARACTERISTICS. THE DATA SUGGESTED THAT THE CONCEPT OF TREATMENT WAS EFFECTIVELY INSTILLED IN THE TRAINEES AND DEMONSTRATED THAT THE TRAINEES SHOWED A SIGNIFICANT POSITIVE CHANGE IN ATTITUDES TOWARD PUNISHMENT AND CUSTODY. COMPARATIVE DATA IS PRESENTED IN TABULAR FORM.