https://doi.org/10.1177/0032885517710910 The Prison Journal 1–20 © 2017 SAGE Publications Reprints and permissions: sagepub.com/journalsPermissions.nav DOI: 10.1177/0032885517710910 journals.sagepub.com/home/tpj Article Research Note: A Career-Stage Analysis of Correctional Staff Outcomes Eric G. Lambert 1 , Nancy L. Hogan 2 , and Marie L. Griffin 3† Abstract Correctional research has just begun to explore the effects of variables and their differences over the course of a career within the field. This study examined several correctional staff outcomes and how they varied over three identified career stages (initial, establishment, and maintenance) at a state-government operated prison. Results indicated that job involvement, job satisfaction, affective commitment, moral commitment, and turnover intent were highest during the initial stage of employment, which is contrary to other occupations. Job stress and continuance commitment remained equal across all three career stages. Findings suggest that the effects on career stages are contextual and vary across different types of organizations. Furthermore, the strains and stresses of working in a correctional institution may not be cumulative but remain steady across a career. Keywords correctional staff, career stages, job stress, job involvement, job satisfaction, organizational commitment, turnover intent 1 The University of Mississippi, University, USA 2 Ferris State University, Big Rapids, MI, USA 3 Arizona State University, Phoenix, USA † Deceased in 2016 Corresponding Author: Eric G. Lambert, Department of Legal Studies, The University of Mississippi, Odom Hall 202, P.O. Box 1848, University, MS 38677, USA. Email: eglamber@olemiss.eldu 710910TPJ XX X 10.1177/0032885517710910The Prison JournalLambert et al. research-article 2017