Knowledge of Wrongdoing, Whistleblowing Intent, and Whistleblowing Behavior among Jail Staff

• In Event: Understanding Criminal Justice Workplaces

Abstract

Staff wrongdoing poses challenges for many criminal justice organizations. Few studies have examined such wrongdoing in correctional agencies, and none have measured the extent to which it is formerly reported. Combining theoretical work on whistleblowing from other disciplines with data obtained from jail staff using the Work Experiences Questionnaire, this study investigates the relationship between several personal and work environment variables (including awareness of wrongdoing) to both whistleblowing intent and actual reporting. Several facets of wrongdoing are measured, including discovery, frequency, seriousness, and exposure. Implications for correctional organizations are considered.

Authors

• James Wells, Eastern Kentucky University

• Kevin Minor, Eastern Kentucky University

• Eric Lambert, University of Nevada, Reno

• Anna Reeves, Eastern Kentucky University