RESIDENT AND STAFF PERCEPTIONS OF THE PRISON ENVIRONMENT - PSYCHOSOCIAL EVALUATION

• NCJ Number: 11192
• Author(s): C D SCULLY; M R YOUNG
• Date Published: 1973
• Length: 28 pages
• Sponsoring Agency: US Dept of Justice
• Corporate Author: Kentucky Dept of Corrections
• Publication Format: Document
• Publication Type: Statistics
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

THE CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTIONS ENVIRONMENT SCALE SHOWS MARKED DIFFERENCES IN PERCEIVED ENVIRONMENTS OF KENTUCKY CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTIONS BY STAFF AND RESIDENTS.

Abstract

THE NINE SCALES OF THE CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTIONS ENVIRONMENT SCALE (CIES) COVER AREAS, SUCH AS AUTONOMY, STAFF CONTROL, AND PERSONAL PROBLEM ORIENTATION, WHICH ARE ESSENTIAL TO THERAPEUTIC EFFORT. THE CIES WAS ADMINISTERED TO RESIDENTS PARTICIPATING IN DIFFERENT THERAPEUTIC PROGRAMS IN FIVE KENTUCKY CORRECTIONAL FACILITIES AND TO THE TREATMENT STAFF AT TWO FACILITIES. THE RESULTS SHOW TRENDS RELATIVE TO THE SECURITY STATUS OF THE INSTITUTION WITH RESIDENTS OF MAXIMUM SECURITY INSTITUTIONS HAVING LESS FAVORABLE PERCEPTION OF THE ENVIRONMENT THAN THE RESIDENTS OF MEDIUM AND MINIMUM SECURITY INSTITUTIONS. THE AUTHORS USE GRAPHS IN THEIR DISCUSSION OF RESULTS OBTAINED FROM EACH INSTITUTION. THE RESULTS SHOW THAT RESIDENTS HOLD A NEGATIVE VIEW OF INSTITUTIONAL ENVIRONMENT. THE STAFF SCORED VERY LOW ON SCALES SUCH AS INVOLVEMENT AND SUPPORT, IMPLYING POOR RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN RESIDENTS AND STAFF.