Based upon interview data from 60 officers in four county jails, this paper examines the differences in the institutional work orientations and experiences of deputy sheriffs and career line correctional officers. We found that both deputy sheriffs and corrections officers felt they received little support from administrators and were treated as second‐class employees. Corrections officers were more likely to emphasize the professionalism of corrections work, to reduce social distance with inmates, and to stress the importance of human relations skills in effective work performance. In contrast, deputies were more likely to emphasize the futility of corrections work, to view inmates with suspicion and distrust, and stress coercive control and order maintenance dutie