Punitive and rehabilitative orientations toward offenders among community correctional officers in China

• In Event: Correctional Staff and Service Provider Perspectives on Offender Populations

Abstract

This study focuses on two primary control orientations in corrections - punishment and rehabilitation. Using data collected from 225 community correctional officers in Hubei, China in 2013, this study investigated the officer’s control orientations toward offenders and the effects of job characteristics, agency characteristics, and sociodemographics on the orientations. The study found that the Chinese community correctional officers integrated punishment and rehabilitation orientations. Agency characteristics, job characteristics, and economic status affected their control views but their demographic variables did not. Explanations of the findings are also provided.

Authors

• Shanhe Jiang, University of Toledo

• Wendi Goodlin-Fahncke, University of Toledo

• Deping Xiang, Central China Normal University

• Xiaohong Jin, Central China Normal University

• Dawei Zhang, Central China Normal University

• Shengyong Yang, Central China Normal University

• Na Xu, Central China Normal University