Turnover Intention Among Community Corrections Staff

Although vacancy and turnover rates have increased nationwide over the past 10 years, little research has examined turnover intention among community corrections staff. Using data from an online survey of probation/parole and residential officers, we explored the impact of individual, work environment, and job attitude variables on turnover intention. Logistic regression analysis found that some factors were consistently significant across individual, work-related, and job attitude models, while others dropped in significance when job attitudes were added. Residential officers and staff who reported greater coworker support and emotional exhaustion reported greater turnover intention than probation/parole officers, while staff who reported greater job satisfaction indicated lower turnover intention. Supervisor support and threat of harm were significant in the individual and work variable models, but their significance dropped when job attitudes were added. Contrary to expectations, staff with longer tenure reported greater turnover intention. The explanations for these findings and policy implications are also discussed.