This study assesses dimensions of morale within a joint custodial and community supervision agency context and finds positive feelings of morale overall, but interaction effects suggest that morale is a context dependent construct.
By reconsidering dimensions of morale and situating it within a joint custodial and community supervision agency context, the authors of this study contribute to the growing literature on organizational behavior in the youth justice setting. Survey results reveal positive feelings of morale overall; however, interaction effects suggest that type of staff and attitudes toward punishment impact morale, providing evidence that morale is a context dependent construct. Morale is an important feature of organizational work life; however, few studies in criminal justice settings consider measuring morale in organizational surveys, nor how morale might link to other employee characteristics, like personal attitudes. The current study surveys 180 workers in a youth and family court setting to examine the relationship between morale and organizational- and individual-level factors. (Published Abstract Provided)