Racial Diversity of Correctional Workers and Inmates: Organizational Commitment, Teamwork and Worker Efficacy in Prisons

Prior research into the effects of racial diversity upon workplace relationships has demonstrated that white workers prefer to work in and with groups which are also comprised of white workers. Using structural equation models, we tested whether higher levels of racial diversity, measured as social distance from coworkers and inmates, were associated with lower evaluations of organizational commitment, teamwork among coworkers, and efficacy in dealing with inmates. We found the expected negative effects of racial diversity upon white male correctional workers for organizational commitment, but not for teamwork and efficacy. For male minority correctional workers, racial diversity did not affect organizational commitment, teamwork, or efficacy.