An Exploratory Study of Possible Correlates of Individual Whistleblowing Propensity Among Sworn Staff in a City Jail
Author ORCID Identifier
James Wells https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7080-0332
Department
Justice Studies
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
6-2021
Abstract
Staff are essential to running safe and humane correctional institutions. To this end, staff sometimes need to report coworker misconduct. Doing so requires a propensity to engage in whistleblowing, a topic that has received very little attention in the criminal justice literature. Using results from the Work Experiences Questionnaire (WEQ), an instrument designed to measure various features of correctional work environments, we found several exploratory variables to be significantly associated with individual whistleblowing propensity. Specifically, male staff, White staff, and staff with college degrees had higher propensity scores. Increases in job satisfaction and organizational whistleblowing propensity were also related to greater willingness to report wrongdoing, whereas affective organizational commitment had a negative effect. To the extent replicated, such findings can guide policy and practice concerning the reporting of correctional staff wrongdoing.
Recommended Citation
Wells JB, Minor KI, Lambert EG, Reeves A. An Exploratory Study of Possible Correlates of Individual Whistleblowing Propensity Among Sworn Staff in a City Jail. Criminal Justice Policy Review. 2021;32(4):374-402. doi:10.1177/0887403420919478
Journal Title
Criminal Justice Policy Review