TITLE:
Offender Management in Selected TDCJ Facilities in Houston Region III, TX, USA
AUTHORS:
Chukwunenye I. Okereke
KEYWORDS:
Offenders, Officers, Management, Learned Behavior, Facilities
JOURNAL NAME:
Advances in Applied Sociology,
Vol.16 No.7,
July
27,
2026
ABSTRACT: The study examined Offender Management in 5 selected Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ) Facilities in Houston Region III, Texas. Primary information was obtained through FGDs and pre-coded questionnaire from 292 officers selected through simple random sampling methods. The officers were mostly of African-American racial origin (74.0%), married (57.8%) with 92.1 percent having 1 - 4 years correction work experience. A preponderant (32.1%) of the officers perceived the offenders learned criminal behavior. Emotional disturbance, conflict of conduct norms, disjunction between society’s aspiration (goals) & the avenues (means) for attaining them were statistically significant (Mean > 3:00) factors perceived to determine offenders’ behavior. Data showed that three-quarters (73.3%) of the officers affirmed that locking-up offenders in refractory cells and use of restraints scarcely harden the offenders. The use of reasonable force, informal resolution of conflicts, physical punishment, writing offenders up, hand and leg restraints, denial of privileges and denial of parole were significant (Mean > 3:00) factors for effective offender management. The research extended frontiers in knowledge and can pave way for change in treatment by educating Correction Officers (COs) on balancing negative views of offenders with professionalism.