THE CORRECTIONAL ORIENTATION OF PRISON WARDENS - IS THE REHABILITATIVE IDEAL SUPPORTED

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 information 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.