The research focused on four issues: (1) whether race and sex differences exist among correctional officers in their perceptions of the work environment, (2) whether characteristics of the job and the institutions account for these differences, (3) whether these differences decline over time, and (4) what factors mediate these relationships. The data came from the correctional officer subsample of the 1992 administration of the Prison Social Climate Survey conducted by the Federal Bureau of Prisons. Results revealed that race and sex influence correctional officers' perceptions of the work environment. In addition, these differences between groups are not completely explained by job or institutional characteristics and do not attenuate over time. Moreover, certain factors mediate the relationship between race and sex and workplace perceptions. Among minority male officers, greater efficacy in working with inmates appears to be an important factor in creating lower levels of job stress, while white female officers' higher levels of overall job satisfaction were explained largely by a more positive evaluation of the quality of supervision. Tables and 49 references (Author abstract modified)