Work and Family Support Services for Correctional Officers and Their Family Members; A National Survey

• NCJ Number: 192292
• Author(s): Robert P. Delprino Ph.D.
• Date Published: 2001
• Length: 79 pages
• Grant Number(s): 99-FS-VX-0002
• Agencies: NIJ-Sponsored
• Publication Type: Survey

Annotation

Through a national survey of correctional agencies, this study identified the extent and nature of organizational support programs for correctional officers and their family members.

Abstract

Participants included the primary adult and juvenile correctional agencies in the 50 United States, the District of Columbia, the Federal Bureau of Prisons, and U.S. territories. A response rate of 63.3 percent was obtained, representing 76 agencies from the 120 agencies contacted to participate in the study. The survey questionnaire developed for this study identified services provided, the individuals who provided services, the organizational impact of programs, agencies' obstacles to the use of services, and steps agencies take to enhance services and programs for officers and their family members. Comparisons were made based on the type of agency (adult, juvenile, both adult and juvenile) and the size of the agency. Employee assistance programs were found to be the most common form of service that agencies offered to their members. The programs and services provided focused on the officer, and apparently little if any information was available to identify the effectiveness and use of existing programs. Less attention and resources were provided to address the officer's family members' concerns. Correctional agencies have not fully addressed the impact that a career as an officer can have on the family. Also, agencies have not recognized the officer's family members as a resource in assisting to minimize the potential negative consequences that a career as a correctional officer can have on the well-being of the officer, family, and organization. 16 tables and 37 references