Defense Date

4-4-2008

Graduation Date

Spring 2008

Availability

Immediate Access

Submission Type

thesis

Degree Name

MA

Department

Graduate Center for Social and Public Policy

School

McAnulty College and Graduate School of Liberal Arts

Committee Chair

Norman Conti

Committee Member

Charles F. Hanna

Keywords

corrections ombudsman, grievance resolution, prisons, total institutions

Abstract

This study compares prison grievance resolution programs currently being utilized in New Jersey and Pennsylvania. The effectiveness of each program is examined through administrators' perceptions of how well the programs are working. The Chief Grievance Processor and a Facility Grievance Coordinator in the Pennsylvania Department of Corrections and the Head Corrections Ombudsman in the state of New Jersey were interviewed. Effectiveness is determined through a comparison of what administrators report and the stated objectives of each program. It is hypothesized that administrators from both states will believe the processes are currently working effectively because of bureaucratic pressure. Results show that administrators in Pennsylvania support this hypothesis, while the administrator interviewed in New Jersey made suggestions for change. The results also show while neither program operates more effectively in terms of their stated goals, the New Jersey Office of the Corrections Ombudsman functions with a larger scope of potential change.

Format

PDF

Language

English

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