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Correctional Orientation of Bermuda Prison Guards: An Assessment of Attitudes Toward Punishment and Rehabilitation

NCJ Number
134236
Journal
International Journal of Comparative and Applied Criminal Justice Volume: 15 Issue: 1 and 2 Dated: (Spring/Fall 1991) Pages: 71-80
Author(s)
V S Burton Jr; X Ju; R G Dunaway; N T Wolfe
Date Published
1991
Length
10 pages
Annotation
This study surveyed all Bermuda correctional officers to determine their attitudes toward a custody or rehabilitative orientation in handling inmates; results are compared with a similar study in the United States.
Abstract
This study used the same correctional orientation scales used by Cullen et al. in their study of American correctional officers. Of 51 possible respondents, 49 completed usable questionnaires. Two 7-point Likert scales were used to measure Bermuda guards' support for both the custody and rehabilitation of Bermuda inmates. In accordance with the Cullen study, information was also obtained on officers' gender, education, race, age, income, years of correctional officer experience, years at current institution, and officer rank. Aside from the Bermuda sample consisting entirely of black officers, there were striking similarities between respondent characteristics in the Bermuda and American studies. The Bermuda prison guards were very supportive of a rehabilitative orientation (instead of custody). They were more supportive of increased funding for rehabilitative programs and were more sympathetic toward inmates than the American prison guards surveyed in the Cullen study. Education, income, and rank significantly influenced support for the rehabilitative orientation; only income bore a significant relationship to a custody orientation. 5 notes, 4 tables, and 14 references