Exploring Job Satisfaction Amongst Correctional Officers and Correctional Staff

• In Event: Poster Session 1

Abstract

The role and responsibility of the correctional officer has increased in both complexity and difficulty over time. This expanded role can be categorized into security; service; helping inmates adjust to life inside; and helping inmates prepare to re-enter the community. This expansion, coupled with the carceral environment leads to decreased job satisfaction, and stress. This study examines prison staff and correctional officer job satisfaction, and how job satisfaction varies by institutional security level. Using an original 28-item anonymous survey, this study finds similarities in safety perceptions and public role value across job role; but differences in work impact, management communication, team cooperation, supervisor respect, and inmate role value. Similarities across security levels were also found as were similarities across previously worked security level.

Author

• Jared Henry, Queen's University