The Influence of Correctional Officers' Perceived Occupational Prestige on Job Stress

• In Event: Issues Facing Correctional Staff

Abstract

More than 450,000 people work in public and private correctional institutions in the United States, collectively supervising over 2.2 million jail and prison inmates. The nature of correctional officers’ work exposes them to numerous stressors which can have harmful effects on their health and their job performance. Several studies have examined the significance of environmental and organizational factors on work outcomes among prison staff. Less attention has been paid to external stressors such as negative images of correctional officers held by the community and correctional officers’ perception of their own occupational prestige. The present paper uses multivariate analyses of data from a survey of correctional officers employed in one Western prison system to examine the impact of a negative public image and perceived occupational prestige on job stress. The findings are discussed within the context of policy implications regarding external stressors and mechanisms to reduce officer stress.

Authors

• Samuel G. Vickovic, Arizona State University

• Marie L. Griffin, Arizona State University

• John R. Hepburn, Arizona State University