Though correctional leadership issues have been approached by some, few, if any, studies have focused exclusively on the directors of the state operated juvenile and adult correctional systems, and none have focused on the topics of vision, leadership, and rehabilitation with this group. A forty-two item mail questionnaire was used to collect data from the directors of state operated adult and juvenile correctional systems in the United States. Results from this study provided answers and insights to nine research questions: (1) What is the correctional policy model of choice for directors of state correctional systems? (2) What do directors of state correctional systems perceive as the major function of the correctional system? (3) What predictions do directors of state correctional systems have regarding the future of corrections in their states? (4) What do directors of state correctional systems perceive as the major issue in corrections? (5) Do the directors of state correctional systems believe that any treatment intervention "works" with offenders? (6) By what process are directors of state correctional systems selected for their positions? (7) What do directors of state correctional systems believe is the public opinion regarding knowledge of, and support for, the criminal justice system in their state? (8) Who do directors of state correctional systems perceive as being the most influential person(s) in their state concerning correctional issues? (9) What are the similarities and differences in perceptions and opinions of directors of state adult and juvenile correctional systems regarding correctional issues? In conclusion, the correctional management and correctional academic communities were asked to consider a list of fourteen specific recommendations for enhancing correctional leadership and research.

Over the last 30 years, the juvenile justice system and juvenile correctional ideology shifted to become more punitive in nature. However, studies examining this shift are lacking in the literature. The present study will attempt to assess what correctional ideology, rehabilitative or punitive, is dominant within juvenile corrections by conducting a national survey to juvenile facility directors. This study will be based on prior literature, most of which has focused upon line staff in an adult correctional setting. From this prior literature, more specifically from the work of Cullen et al. (1989), scales will be created to determine the correctional orientation of the key administrators in juvenile facilities. This will allow us to assess whether the correctional ideology driving the juvenile system has in fact become punitive. The findings from this study have the opportunity to alter the current status quo in juvenile corrections.