M2A2

 

There are issues with correctional officer turnover and the impact it has on inmate safety (http://www.doc.state.vt.us/about/reports/attrition/view) also. (See also: Lommel, J. (2004). Turning around turnover. Corrections Today,  66(5), 54–57.) Concerns include the impact the turnover has on other  employees as they may feel that the rookies are not as dedicated to the  success of the institution. This impacts motivation and communication  between officers and with inmates.

Studies of criminal justice employees consistently indicate that one  of the biggest stressors for an officer or employee is the organization  itself, not the nature of the job.

Problems at Centervale Corrections Facility

You are the Corrections Human Relations and Training Officer for a  large metropolitan correctional facility known as the Centervale  Corrections Facility. This facility has existed for 17 years and has  well-developed policies and practices.

The Centervale Corrections Facility was one of the more respected  facilities because it diligently practiced the humane and ethical  treatment of inmates. Employees were always reported to have been  satisfied with the job. Employee evaluation processes within the  organization were well thought of for their level of fairness and  effectiveness. Moreover, the structural and social aspects of jobs were  always well planned, so that employees were clear about what was  required of them.

However, over the past two years, things have changed.

The level of job satisfaction experienced by employees is at an all  time low. A huge number of people aspiring to be officers apply to your  facility every year, yet they don't seem to stay. Upon being questioned,  the officers list burnout, communication problems with senior officers,  lack of motivation, low pay, poor understanding of job requirements,  and poor cooperation from other agencies among their most important  reasons for being unhappy with the job. They have been reported to say,  “This is not what we expected. This is supposed to be one of the best  correctional facilities in the country. But everything is messed up.” It  seems as though somewhere over the past few years the staff at the  Centervale Corrections Facility has become stressed and unsatisfied with  the work environment.

The turnover is causing a lot of stress and strain within and around  the facility. It is becoming painfully obvious to the government  authorities that somewhere down the line planning and management of the  Centervale Corrections Facility has deteriorated.

For this assignment you are the Human Relations and Training Officer,  you have been assigned the task of reviewing the existing policies and  processes in the facility and suggesting an improved management plan so  that job satisfaction will increase and job stress will decrease. To do  this, you need to understand the reasons for low job satisfaction.

Your revised management plan must address the following:

• How will you prevent burnout among the employees?
• How you will improve communication between senior and junior officers?
• What are the ways in which you will increase motivation and job performance?
• How will you improve cooperation from other agencies?

The above are specific questions you need to answer. Keeping these  questions in mind, to bring about a change in the situation at  Centervale Corrections Facility, you also need to focus on:

• Job redesign
• Effective leadership
• Improved supervision
• Effective evaluation and performance measures
• Image with other agencies

As the Human Relations and Training Officer, you have a significant  task at hand. You need to revise the policies and processes in the  facility so that job satisfaction increases and job stress decreases. To  do this, you need to understand the reasons for low job satisfaction.

4-5 pages Microsoft word