How Does Dangerousness Affect Inmates Behavior

The following research examines the relationship between organizational and institutional commitment and perceptions of inmate dangerousness, rapport with inmates, inmate reentry orientation, and respect toward inmates. The literature on correctional officers (COs) has demonstrated the effect of perceived dangerousness on CO behaviors and attitudes, how COs’ rapport with inmates affects inmate behavior, how COs’ support for reentry affects inmates, and how COs’ respect toward inmates affects inmate behaviors but research has not examined how dangerousness, rapport with inmates, reentry orientation, and respect toward inmates is influenced by COs’ organizational or institutional commitment. Two research questions were examined: Are correctional

officers’ perceptions of inmate dangerousness, rapport with inmates, attitudes toward inmate reentry orientation, or respect toward inmates affected by their commitment to the BOP?; and Are correctional officers’ perceptions of inmate dangerousness, rapport with inmates, attitudes toward inmate reentry orientation, or respect toward inmates affected by their commitment to their institution? A non-experimental secondary data analysis of group differences correlational design was used to examine how levels of commitment (expressed as low, medium, and high) are related to the criterion variables.

The predictor and criterion variables were collected by the Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) through their Prison Social Climate Survey (PSCS). A one-way MANCOVA was calculated for both research questions. The one-way MANCOVA analysis was statistically significant for both predictor variables. Post hoc univariate one-way ANCOVAs were performed with a Bonferroni adjustment. For both predictor variables, statistical significance was found for each criterion variable. Post hoc pairwise comparisons with a Bonferroni correction were conducted. A positive correlation was found for each predictor/criterion pair except for rapport with inmates/institution commitment. For reentry orientation, the results may demonstrate a fundamental difference between COs who support the goals of the BOP and those who do not support the goals of the organization. For respect toward inmates, the research findings may demonstrate that COs with high rates of commitment recognize the benefits of treating inmates with respect or they more highly value the core principles

of the BOP. Rapport with inmates was positively correlated with commitment to the BOP but was only positively correlated with institution commitment when examining high versus low and high versus medium commitment levels. This finding may be due to a difference between individual correctional facilities compared to the whole organization. Dangerousness was also positively correlated with commitment to the BOP and institution commitment which may reflect construct problems.