An analysis of the perceived level of fear and risk of victimization of correctional officers in a nontraditional therapeutic juvenile correctional center versus a traditional juvenile correctional center.

摘要

This dissertation measures and attempts to explain the perceived level of fear and risk of victimization experienced by juvenile correctional officers (JCOs) in a nontraditional therapeutic versus a traditional juvenile correctional center using secondary data. The sample was derived by administering a self-report survey to JCOs at Barrett (n = 78) and Hanover (n = 47) Juvenile Correctional Centers in Richmond, Virginia. The original survey instrument contained 86 statements pertaining to (1) demographics; (2) attitudinal statements relating to the organization, administration and authority, working conditions, and rehabilitation and, (3) statements with multiple responses that address the perceived level of fear and risk of victimization.;Both groups (Barrett and Hanover JCOs) reported low levels of fear and risk of victimization. Exploratory factor analyses were conducted to develop composite measures of the fear and risk variables. Four scales (FEARIND, FEARCOL, RISKIND, RISKCOL) were created measuring individual fear, collective fear, individual risk, collective risk, respectively. The t-tests indicated there was no difference in the fear or risk of victimization at the individual or collective level by institution. The samples were combined and multiple regression was conducted to establish the correlates of fear and risk. The results indicated that gender was significant in all four models with females reporting higher fear and risk of victimization at the individual and collective levels than their counterparts. Number of years of prior experience was approaching significance for the RISKCOL. The limitations of the study are addressed as well as policy implications.