Job Satisfaction Among Probation and Parole Staff Employed by the Commonwealth of Kentucky Department of Corrections

Abstract

This study is based upon a voluntary, anonymous questionnaire survey of the job satisfaction and organizational commitment of probation and parole officers (n=223) in the Commonwealth of Kentucky. Standardized validation scales were used: the Job In-General Scale (a global measure of job satisfaction), the Job Descriptive Index (a facet measure of job satisfaction), and the Organizational Commitment Questionnaire (a measure of loyalty to the agency itself). In brief the probation and parole officers (PO's) were satisfied with the nature of the work itself. They liked their coworkers and supervisors, but were severely dissatisfied with their pay and promotional opportunities. They demonstrated an average level of organizational commitment.