Unlocking Organizational Potential: Examining Prison Organizational Context through the Lens of the Principles of Effective Intervention

• In Event: Implementation, Partnerships, and Organizational Context: Exploring the Principles of Effective Intervention Beyond Risk, Need, and Responsivity

Abstract

Beyond incapacitation, prisons operate as complex organizations with missions, budgets, and employees. While existing literature within and outside criminal justice highlights the impact of organizational climate and culture on agency effectiveness through employee commitment, its relevance to correctional facilities remains underexplored. This study addresses this gap by examining organizational context through the principles of effective intervention as outlined by Gendreau (1996). We analyze survey data from staff members across 28 prisons in a large Midwestern state, using multilevel analyses to assess how staff and prison characteristics influence measures of organizational context. Specifically, we will assess the influence of staff and prison characteristics on reported measures of organizational context, including professional orientation, work conditions, organizational commitment, perspective taking, and cynicism for change. By connecting these findings to the principles of effective intervention, we aim to highlight how organizational factors within prisons can impact the implementation and success of interventions. The study's findings will inform research and policy, enhancing correctional practices through evidence-based principles.

Authors

• Jessica J. Warner, University of Cincinnati Corrections Institute

• Christopher D’Amato, University of Cincinnati

• Ryan Labrecque, RTI International