Date of Award
12-2025
Document Type
Dissertation
Degree Name
Doctor of Education (EdD)
Department
Executive Leadership
First Supervisor
Dr. Daniele Lyman-Torres
Second Supervisor
Dr. Gilbert Louis
Abstract
Probation officers work in demanding environments marked by high caseloads, role conflict, and organizational pressures that can negatively affect job satisfaction and workforce stability. Leadership practices at the frontline supervisory level play a critical role in shaping these experiences, yet limited empirical research has examined servant leadership within community corrections. The purpose of this quantitative correlational study was to examine the relationship between probation officers’ perceptions of servant leadership demonstrated by their direct supervisors and their level of job satisfaction.
Data were collected from probation officers affiliated with departments connected to the American Probation and Parole Association using an anonymous online survey administered through Qualtrics. The study employed validated measures of servant leadership and job satisfaction. Descriptive statistics were used to assess levels of perceived servant leadership and job satisfaction, and Spearman correlation analyses with bootstrap confidence intervals were conducted to examine the relationship between these variables.
The results indicate a statistically significant positive relationship between perceived servant leadership and overall job satisfaction, with particularly strong associations related to satisfaction with supervision. These findings suggest that ethical, supportive, and empowering leadership behaviors at the frontline supervisory level are meaningfully associated with probation officers’ work experiences. The study highlights the practical implications of leadership practices as a modifiable factor that may support workforce engagement and stability in community corrections. Recommendations include incorporating servant leadership principles into supervisor training and leadership development initiatives, and conducting future research to further examine leadership practices that support probation officers’ well-being and organizational effectiveness in probation settings.
Recommended Citation
Gambrell, Shamira B., "Exploring the Relationship Between Job Satisfaction and Servant Leadership in Community Corrections: A Probation Officer’s Perspective" (2025). Education Doctoral. Paper 639.
https://fisherpub.sjf.edu/education_etd/639
Please note that the Recommended Citation provides general citation information and may not be appropriate for your discipline. To receive help in creating a citation based on your discipline, please visit http://libguides.sjfc.edu/citations.