NCJ Number
161300
Date Published
1996
Length
9 pages
Annotation
A study of job stress among jail personnel in Texas revealed that correctional personnel perceive stress to be at its highest levels when they have completed their 11th year of service in corrections work.
Abstract
The research focused on current job satisfaction, the general level of stress and its relationship to years of experience, the relationship of the 10 greatest stressors to experience. Data were collected by means of 20 self-report questionnaires mailed to each of 35 county jails in Texas. Usable responses came from 366 jail personnel. Results revealed a positive correlation between years of experience and the level of perceived stress. Approximately 64 percent of the officers reported being fairly satisfied to very satisfied with their chosen occupation. On a scale of 0 to 100, they rated their current stress at an average of 45. Nearly all indicated that correctional personnel stress should receive medium to high attention in future research. Findings were consistent with studies by several other researchers concerning the impact of cumulative stress. Tables