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Abstract: 

This study examines the effects of public service motivation (PSM) in predicting decision making of criminal justice personnel (reentry managers) in the management of former prisoners. The overarching research question seeks to answer if, and in what way, PSM score influences reentry managers’ approach to their work with the formerly incarcerated who are in transition from prison back into the community. The main hypothesis of the study is that reentry managers with a higher PSM score will be more inclined to take an assistance-oriented approach with former prisoners and be more likely to make rehabilitative decisions than will managers with lower PSM scores, who will be more inclined to assume a punitive role. The study uses binomial logistic regression and chi-square analysis to test hypotheses. Findings support the key hypothesis, with the overall sample possessing medium to high PSM scores and a greater frequency of making rehabilitative decisions.

Keywords: Public service motivation (PSM), reentry managers, offender reentry, rehabilitation and punishment

Affiliations:  1: New Jersey Reentry Corporation; 2: University of Central Florida.