Correlates of Individual and Organizational Whistleblowing Propensity Among Sworn Staff in a City Jail

• In Event: The Subculture of Correctional Officers

Abstract

Most published research on whistleblowing has come from fields other than criminal justice. The few studies of whistleblowing in criminal justice have focused primarily on police organizations. To the authors’ knowledge, no studies have examined whistleblowing among prison or jail staff. This study focuses on the results from the first administration of the Work Experiences Questionnaire (WEQ), an instrument designed to measure various correlates of correctional officers’ work environment, including officers’ willingness to report wrongful behavior for which they have direct evidence and that has harmed the public, staff, inmates, or detainees. Drawing from the prosocial organizational behavior model of whistle-blowing, the authors investigate the degree to which work environment and personal variables influence whistle-blowing propensity. Implications of findings for correctional organizations are considered.

Authors

• Anna M. Reeves, Eastern Kentucky University

• Joseph Aaron Ellis, Eastern Kentucky University

• James B. Wells, Eastern Kentucky University

• Kevin I. Minor, Eastern Kentucky University

• Eric Lambert, University of Mississippi