The limits of individual control? Perceived officer power and probationer compliance

A preliminary investigation of the effect of correctional officers’ bases of power on their fear and risk of victimization

“…While much of the referenced literature examining bases of power indicates specific uses of power in particular situations as more effective, that body of research is concerned with measuring interactions, outcomes, and/or gaining compliance (e.g., Hepburn 1985;Smith et al 2009;Steiner et al 2012;Stojkovic 1984Stojkovic , 1986Stichman 2003). The goal of the current study is different: the focus is to understand the influence the bases of power have on an officer's perception of safety.…”

“…Overall, the uses of referent, expert, and occasionally legitimate power are stronger predictors of gaining compliance among those in a subordinate or less powerful position (e.g., Bachman, Bowers, and Marcus 1968;Bachman, Smith, and Slesinger 1968;Schriesheim 1990, 1994;Mossholder et al 1998;Rahim 1989;Rahim and Buntzman 1991;Smith et al 2009). Likewise, referent, expert, and legitimate power structures lead to greater job satisfaction and buy-in to the organizational goals (e.g., Bachman, Bowers, and Marcus 1968;Bachman, Smith, and Slesinger 1968;Schriesheim 1990, 1994;Mossholder et al 1998;Rahim 1989;Rahim and Buntzman 1991).…”

“…Although these bases of power have been widely used to examine interactions in a number of environments, only a handful of studies have focused on the criminal justice system (Hepburn 1985;Smith et al 2009;Steiner et al 2012;Stichman 2003;Stojkovic 1984Stojkovic , 1986Tifft 1975) and more specifically on prisons. Using selfadministered questions of 305 officers at five adult male prisons, Hepburn (1985) found that officers believed legitimate and expert powers to be the most important reasons why inmates comply, and this finding was consistent among the five prisons.…”

Examining the Link Between Parole Officers’ Bases of Power and Their Exercise of Power

“…The predictor variables included measures of officers' bases of power, background characteristics, and caseload characteristics. The primary independent variables of interest were officers' bases of power, which were each measured by inquiring about officers' level of agreement with the following survey questions: The questions are similar to those that have been used in prior studies of justice system actors' bases of power (e.g., Hepburn, 1985;Smith et al, 2009;Stichman, 2002), although each question was modified for the parole context. For the multivariate analyses described below, the ordinal scales were collapsed into dichotomous indicators of parole officers' bases of power (agree/disagree) because equal distances between the categories of the ordinal scales could not be assumed.…”

Citizen‐agency versus state‐agency at the frontline in prisons and probation services: A systematic literature review

“…Officers' discretion is usually contrasted with the objectivity and formality of rules and procedures. In this respect, a pool of studies suggests that the lack of formal structuring of officers' decision processes may result in inconsistent judgements and unequal treatment of probationers (Benson, 1985; Cohen & Palmor, 1985; Persson & Svensson, 2012; Smith, Applegate, Sitren, & Springer, 2009; Wolff, Shi, & Siegel, 2009) or prisoners (e.g. McIntyre, Marquart, & Brewer, 1999).…”