Author(s): Ferid Azemi
Correctional organizations often face with ethical issues, and the role of administrator in addressing these issues remains a great challenge. Ethics and social justice are the main emphasized factors in this study, where various abuses may constitute in human rights violation, violation of a code of ethics, the corruption inside prisons and also other forms of misbehaviors. The purpose of this study was to bridge gaps in knowledge about the administrator's decision-making process, political influences, external and internal controls, and conflict of interests. The theoretical frameworks for this study were McNeal's organizational culture, and Cooper's principles of the responsible administrator, and O'Leary's guerrilla government theory. The qualitative phenomenological study design was employed using a case study of Corcoran State Prison, in California. Secondary data were included and categorized for thematic analysis and comparisons. Results indicated the lack of implementation of ethical principles in practice not only on a piece of paper, could lead to serious problems inside of corrections. To implement recommendations that bring positive changes, the administrators face very difficult challenges. Some of the problems are the financial issues and burden, deep reforms in the justice system and also the promotion of diversity and reduction of gender disparities.