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A systematic and meta-analytic review of the literature on correctional officers: Identifying new avenues for research

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  • Butler, H. Daniel
  • Tasca, Melinda
  • Zhang, Yan
  • Carpenter, Channing

Abstract

Scholarly interest in the experiences and behaviors of correctional officers has increased over the past several decades. Yet, considerably less is known about those who oversee and manage prison populations relative to other criminal justice professionals. In this study, we perform a systematic review and meta-analysis of 172 peer-reviewed articles published between 1980 and 2017 that include samples of correctional officers. The goal of this review is to “take stock” of the correctional officer literature in an effort to inform future research, policy, and practice. Specifically, we examine publication trends over the past several decades in addition to examining all outcomes across the included studies. We find that job satisfaction, job stress, and organizational commitment are the most frequently examined outcomes. Next, we examine the most commonly included correlates across each of these outcomes, which include age, female, white, education, experience, supervisor support, and peer support. Findings reveal that organizational factors such as supervisor support and peer support influence each of these outcomes, while demographic characteristics have mixed effects. Recommendations for future research include the need to examine other attitudes and experiences of correctional officers in addition to exploring variation in the effects examined in this review.

Suggested Citation

  • Butler, H. Daniel & Tasca, Melinda & Zhang, Yan & Carpenter, Channing, 2019. "A systematic and meta-analytic review of the literature on correctional officers: Identifying new avenues for research," Journal of Criminal Justice, Elsevier, vol. 60(C), pages 84-92.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:jcjust:v:60:y:2019:i:c:p:84-92
    DOI: 10.1016/j.jcrimjus.2018.12.002
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    1. Wright, Kevin N. & Saylor, William G., 1992. "A comparison of perceptions of the work environment between minority and non-minority employees of the federal prison system," Journal of Criminal Justice, Elsevier, vol. 20(1), pages 63-71.
    2. Lambert, Eric G. & Hogan, Nancy L. & Jiang, Shanhe & Elechi, O. Oko & Benjamin, Barbaranne & Morris, Angela & Laux, John M. & Dupuy, Paula, 2010. "The relationship among distributive and procedural justice and correctional life satisfaction, burnout, and turnover intent: An exploratory study," Journal of Criminal Justice, Elsevier, vol. 38(1), pages 7-16, January.
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    5. Zupan, Linda L., 1986. "Gender-related differences in correctional officers' perceptions and attitudes," Journal of Criminal Justice, Elsevier, vol. 14(4), pages 349-361.
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    8. Griffin, Marie L. & Hepburn, John R., 2005. "Side-bets and reciprocity as determinants of organizational commitment among correctional officers," Journal of Criminal Justice, Elsevier, vol. 33(6), pages 611-625.
    9. Armstrong, Gaylene S. & Griffin, Marie L., 2004. "Does the job matter? Comparing correlates of stress among treatment and correctional staff in prisons," Journal of Criminal Justice, Elsevier, vol. 32(6), pages 577-592.
    10. Dial, Kelly Cheeseman & Downey, Ragan A. & Goodlin, Wendi Elizabeth, 2010. "The job in the joint: The impact of generation and gender on work stress in prison," Journal of Criminal Justice, Elsevier, vol. 38(4), pages 609-615, July.
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    13. Marcos Misis & Bitna Kim & Kelly Cheeseman & Nancy L. Hogan & Eric G. Lambert, 2013. "The Impact of Correctional Officer Perceptions of Inmates on Job Stress," SAGE Open, , vol. 3(2), pages 21582440134, May.
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    Cited by:

    1. Katy Konyk & Rosemary Ricciardelli & Tamara Taillieu & Tracie O. Afifi & Dianne Groll & R. Nicholas Carleton, 2021. "Assessing Relative Stressors and Mental Disorders among Canadian Provincial Correctional Workers," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(19), pages 1-25, September.
    2. Ellison, Jared M. & Cain, Calli M. & Jaegers, Lisa A., 2022. "Just another day's work: The nexus between workplace experiences and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) in jail settings," Journal of Criminal Justice, Elsevier, vol. 81(C).
    3. Cristiane S. C. Araújo & Ruth Minamisava & Marcos A. Matos & Camila C. F. Vieira & Priscila V. O. Vitorino & Dolors Rodríguez-Martín & Neuma Chaveiro & Lizete M. A. C. Oliveira & Virginia V. Brasil & , 2020. "Associated Factors of Quality of Life in Prison Officers, Brazil," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(10), pages 1-12, May.
    4. Ellison, Jared M. & Caudill, Jonathan W., 2020. "Working on local time: Testing the job-demand-control-support model of stress with jail officers," Journal of Criminal Justice, Elsevier, vol. 70(C).

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