NCJ Number
214021
Journal
American Journal of Criminal Justice Volume: 30 Issue: 2 Dated: Sprng 2006 Pages: 227-246
Date Published
2006
Length
20 pages
Annotation
This study examined the impact of the organizational structure on correctional job stress.
Abstract
Correctional staff face a very demanding job. A job in which the demands and pressures they face every day could lead many to suffer from stress. In the corrections field, centralization (in terms of lack of autonomy), instrumental communication, and organizational justice (in terms of procedural justice) are important organizational structure factors in helping shape job stress. Before interventions and changes can be implemented, additional research is recommended on the identification of job stress correlates. Evidence shows the need to explore additional factors as possible sources of stress for correctional officers. Many different facets of the correctional work environment have been used to explain correctional employees' job stress. One area that has received little, if any, attention is the impact of organizational structure. This study examined the impact of organizational structure in terms of centralization, instrumental communication, integration, and organizational justice on the job stress of correctional staff. These four major forms of organizational structure are found in every organization. Centralization is concerned with the degree of control employees have in making decisions that affect both the organization and their own jobs. Instrumental communication is the information that employees receive about their tasks, jobs, organizational processes, organizational issues, and general concerns. Integration is concerned with the extent that an organization allows and stresses that different work groups work together in cooperation and coordination to accomplish tasks and goals. Lastly, organizational justice deals with the perceived degree of fairness and justice found within an organization. The study utilized 272 surveys of a representative sample correctional staff from a midwestern correctional facility. References and appendix