Virginia Department of Corrections' Staff Survey, 2012-2014: Conducted Under the National Institute of Correction's Norval Morris Workforce Transformation Initiative

The study was established by the National Institute of Corrections (NIC) in 2006 with the goals of 1) identifying innovative research-based approaches to address topics of vital concern to the corrections field, 2) evaluating the potential impact of those approaches on corrections practice and policy, and 3) developing strategies for effective dissemination and application of the knowledge gleaned from testing these innovations in real-world corrections settings. Creating a healing environment in corrections, which draws from the theory and research on transformational leadership, organizational culture, and workforce development, represents one such innovative strategy selected by the Norval Morris Project to develop, implement, and test. In 2011, the NIC and the Virginia Department of Corrections (VA-DOC) launched a joint workforce transformation initiative to implement operational practices (e.g., leadership development and coaching, dialogue circles, training on evidence-based practices, etc.) that would create a "healing environment" throughout the VA-DOC. The Healing Environment Initiative (HEI) is designed to foster positive change and growth for both employees and justice-involved people, and ultimately promote safer communities. From 2011-2015, researchers at the Urban Institute (Urban) measured and assessed the influence of the HEI on VA-DOC operations using two main data sources: three waves of a self-administered department-wide online staff survey conducted in 2012, 2013 and 2014, and selected performance indicators. The VA-DOC staff survey measured (1) staff perceptions of what it is like to work for the VA-DOC; (2) workforce knowledge of, involvement in, and support for the HEI; and (3) staff attitudes toward reentry and people incarcerated or under supervision by the VA-DOC. On average, approximately 4,400 staff responded to the survey at each administration. Response rates ranged from 44 percent at Wave 1 to 38 percent at Waves 2 and 3.