The Influence of Career Orientation on Support for Rehabilitation among Correctional Staff

Abstract

Career orientation and work values were examined as factors that may relate to support for rehabilitation among correctional staff. The study surveyed a representative sample of 332 correctional and case management staff from the five geographical regions of the Federal Correctional Service of Canada. Not surprisingly, correctional officers were found to be less supportive of rehabilitation than case management staff. Among correctional officers, possessing favorable attitudes toward the field of corrections, showing an interest in career development, preferring work that involves people, and desiring work that provides outlets for personal growth were all positive predictors of support for rehabilitation. A desire to work with people was the only significant predictor the authors identified in the smaller sample of case management officers. The results indicated that demographic variables were not helpful in understanding why some correctional workers are more supportive of programming than others. The findings are discussed in terms of the challenges inherent in creating an engaged correctional workforce that supports programming.