Presentation Title
Contrasting Corrections Staff Attitudes on Incarceration, Punishment, and Rehabilitation
Abstract
The United States’ criminal justice system is known for its punitive nature, particularly in comparison to the rehabilitative focus of many European systems. Considering the integral role that correctional staff play in the maintenance of prison culture, the aim of this research is to better understand Vermont Department of Corrections’ (DOC) staff attitudes towards the purpose of incarceration and rehabilitation. A survey was sent to 1,000 DOC staff consisting of likert scale questions as well as open-ended questions. These responses can better help DOC with initiatives to further improve Vermont’s criminal justice system, as well as help us better understand how staff attitudes can either aid or hinder the progression to a more rehabilitative system. Additionally, there is a lack of data regarding correctional staff attitudes in the United States. This research helps to fill this gap of knowledge. Statistical analysis and correlations regarding staff attitudes will be presented.
Primary Faculty Mentor Name
Kathryn Fox
Status
Undergraduate
Student College
College of Arts and Sciences
Program/Major
Sociology
Primary Research Category
Social Sciences
Contrasting Corrections Staff Attitudes on Incarceration, Punishment, and Rehabilitation
The United States’ criminal justice system is known for its punitive nature, particularly in comparison to the rehabilitative focus of many European systems. Considering the integral role that correctional staff play in the maintenance of prison culture, the aim of this research is to better understand Vermont Department of Corrections’ (DOC) staff attitudes towards the purpose of incarceration and rehabilitation. A survey was sent to 1,000 DOC staff consisting of likert scale questions as well as open-ended questions. These responses can better help DOC with initiatives to further improve Vermont’s criminal justice system, as well as help us better understand how staff attitudes can either aid or hinder the progression to a more rehabilitative system. Additionally, there is a lack of data regarding correctional staff attitudes in the United States. This research helps to fill this gap of knowledge. Statistical analysis and correlations regarding staff attitudes will be presented.