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During the recent war on drugs, large numbers of drug offenders were sentenced to probation. Critics of this policy argued that drug offenders belonged in prison. This analysis uses logistic regression to compare 1993 individual level data on felony and non-drug felony probationers. The results of this analysis provide some justification for the general fear presented in the public media that felony drug probationers threaten communities. However, when the performance of African-American men on probation for felony drug offenses is partitioned, analysis results indicate that they are not the threat to public safety to the extent indicated by the media or envisioned by the American public.

This study examines the nature and distribution of job satisfaction in a national sample of 641 wardens of state prisons for adults. The results indicate that these corrections executives are a highly satisfied occupational group, but there is evidence that job satisfaction among wardens has declined since the late 1980s. Measures of social support in the workplace, including effective communication with staff and support and confidence in subordinates, are important determinants of wardens' job satisfaction. The implications of these findings in the context of corrections' increasing politicization and punitiveness are discussed.

Summary This study investigates the attitudes of Criminal Justice and Social Work majors toward offenders living with mental illness. Multivariate regression analyses were used to explore differences in attitudes between student majors, controlling for factors such as age, race, and political ideology among a sample of 358 respondents. Participant attitudes and beliefs were assessed using the Attitudes toward Mentally Ill Offenders scale which consists of four factors: negative stereotypes, rehabilitation/compassion, community risk, and diminished responsibility. Findings Results of multivariate regression analyses indicated that Social Work students were less likely to have negative stereotypes toward offenders with mental illness and tended to be more supportive of their potential for rehabilitation. Applications It is important to understand attitudes toward and beliefs about adult offenders living with mental illness among future professionals likely to serve this population. Understanding these attitudes has the potential to both inform the higher education curricula as well as strengthen the implementation of evidence-supported practices and policies that require cross-systems collaboration.

This study describes the current situation for female wardens by examining their attitudes toward inmate services, programs, and amenities survival; involvement with correctional staff; and identity as a supervisor through their political affiliations and punishment philosophies. Using Noddings's "caring ethic," this study sought to determine whether the historical inclusion of women in corrections has carried over to present time and has retained its reformist nature and whether the job of warden has become more gender-neutral. The results indicate that the differences between male and female wardens are few; those that did exist provided some support for the caring ethic and the retention of women's roles in corrections as reformers.

The history of criminalization of persons with mental illnesses -- Challenges and needs of persons with mental illness in the criminal justice system -- Inpatient and outpatient civil commitment -- The law enforcement response to persons with mental illnesses in crises -- Jail processing of persons with mental illnesses -- Competency & criminal responsibility of criminal defendants -- Mental health courts -- Mental illness in the prison population : secure and treat? -- Diversion and reentry : strategies for discharging offenders living with mental illness -- Conclusion : striving for informed policies.