Procedural Justice in Jails

• In Event: Correctional Staff, Culture, and Organizational Climate

Abstract

CNA, in collaboration with the Hampden County Sheriff's Office (HCSO) of Massachusetts, is implementing Procedural Justice training within jails and assessing its impact on the overall jail climate. The research is based on the hypothesis that comprehensive procedural justice training for jail officers will (a) improve their knowledge, perceptions, and beliefs about procedural justice, (b) positively affect their behavior and interactions with incarcerated residents, and (c) contribute to a more positive jail climate. Over the course of four years, the study includes the development of training materials, two waves of resident climate surveys, three waves of officer climate surveys, and a randomized schedule for officer training. By the time of the presentation, the study will have completed the first round of officer training and conducted the initial wave of surveys for both officers and residents. This presentation will focus on the collaborative efforts of CNA and HCSO in delivering the training and collecting survey data, providing insights into the early phases data analysis.

Authors

• Rachel Johnston, CNA's Center for Justice Research and Innovation

• Jennifer Lafferty, CNA Corporation

• Kaitlin DePartee, CNA's Center for Justice Research and Innovation

• Margarita Parker, CNA Corporation