Over the past two decades, the ideology ostensibly governing correctional policy has been transformed, it is claimed, from liberal‐rehabilitative to conservative‐punitive. Little empirical in formation is available, however, on whether those who manage correctional institutions—prison wardens—manifest a punitive or reformative orientation to their work Data from a national survey indicate that, while placing a prime emphasis on maintaining custody and institutional order, wardens remain supportive of rehabilitation. Levels of support for treatment, moreover, are only modestly influenced by individual, career, organizational, and contextual variables.

Using a national sample, the authors explore the level and determinants of prison wardens' job satisfaction. The data revealed that, both absolutely and compared with other occupational groups, wardens had a high level of job satisfaction. In general, individual characteristics, organizational conditions, previous work experiences, and a prison's regional location did not influence satisfaction scores. Dimensions of the work role, however, were significantly related to job satisfaction. Wardens were more satisfied who had supportive relations, emphasized human services to inmates, and exercised administrative autonomy within their prison.

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