Role Conflict in Organization: A Study of Prison Camp Officials

In prison administration the increasing emphasis upon treatment,.as contrasted with traditional custodial goals, provides the basis for role conflict. A small Midwestern prison camp is analyzed in these terms. The author found that role conflicts among prison officials arose directly from the conflict between milieu and custodial goals. The conflict was informally resolved in part by the neutrality of the chief administrative official, who was able to instill an organizationwide attitude of impartiality with respect to the two major policies. When, however, this official was succeeded by one with a custodial orientation, the equilibrium was shattered, and staff uncertainty, property damage, and a high escape rate followed. The administrative consequences of a milieu type of policy are traced.' Oscar Grusky is assistant professor of sociology in the University of California at Los Angeles.