November 2023
Evidence Informed Resources to Address Stress and Trauma in Corrections Officers (pdf)
Contributed by Mazen El Ghaziri, Ph.D., M.P.H., R.N., UMass Lowell, Lisa Jaegers, Ph.D., O.T.R./L., Saint Louis University, and Martin Cherniack, M.D., M.P.H., University of Connecticut Health Center
Corrections workers in US prisons and jail facilities oversee over 1.7 million incarcerated individuals1. Corrections workers comprise over 400 thousand personnel2 in job categories such as corrections officers (COs), healthcare providers, teachers, vocational instructors, chaplains, counselors, drug treatment specialists, food service, and maintenance personnel3. The demands and high-stress nature of their job tasks and working conditions place COs at higher risk for adverse mental health challenges than their peers in other professions. COs suffer high rates of stress, burnout, and psychological distress from traumatic events experienced on the job. This article summarizes evidence-based resources to address stress and trauma in corrections officers through a recent literature review and national survey study.
We conducted a scoping review of literature and a national survey of corrections officers to learn about resources available and resource needs of correctional workers in relation to stress and trauma on the job. Stakeholder members of a National Corrections Collaborative (NCC), the National Institute of Corrections (NIC), and the Center for the Promotion of Health in the New England Workplace (CPH-NEW) contributed to the study design and data collection instruments to ensure that correctional workers’ perspectives were reflected and addressed. These individuals served as the NCC Project Taskforce (PT), a multidisciplinary group committed to advancing knowledge and practice in correctional health and well-being.
The scoping review used 5 literature databases with pre-identified inclusion and exclusion criteria as advised by the NCC PT and NIC representatives. The literature search included intervention studies published in the last 20 years. The scoping review identified 1,508 studies, of which 25 studies met the criteria for trauma-related interventions. The numbers of each intervention type represented in the included studies were: needs assessment (4), participatory engagement (3), stress reduction techniques (5), peer health mentoring and COs mental health programs (6), organizational management approaches (3), mental health [population] awareness training (2), and wellness (2).
Following the scoping review the research team, including the NCC PT implemented a national survey in early 2022 to characterize utilization of programs and other resources that address trauma and stress among workers in criminal justice facilities. We asked the correctional middle managers and senior administrators about usage of specific resources located the scoping review and their appropriateness for meeting the needs of the COs. We asked COs about their awareness, use, and helpfulness of the resources. Resources were assessed in four categories: policies; practices; peer support programs; and leadership and staff training. Information on participant demographics and work-related characteristics was also collected.
A total of 1,371 participants from 38 states responded to the survey. The top three resources were identified in each category and are listed in Table 1. The survey findings identified gaps in CO awareness of resources and discrepant perceptions of COs, middle managers and senior administrators on resource use, helpfulness and fitting the needs of COs. We presented the findings from this project during two NIC webinars for COs, middle managers and senior administrators. A white paper is forthcoming.
Table 1. Most common stress and trauma resources for corrections workers identified by survey participants (n=1,371)
| Category | Top 3 Resources |
|---|---|
| Policies | Reporting of traumatic incidents to staff at work, clear job descriptions, and debriefing after traumatic incidents |
| Practices | Referral to Employee Assistance Program (EAP), internal sharing of positive employee recognition, and health and well-being committee |
| Peer Support Programs | Staff peer support teams to support emotional and mental health, peer mentoring of new staff, and an internal trauma/critical incident team of co-workers |
| Leadership and Staff Training | Staff education of non-invasive, de-escalation, defensive-tactics training, management and leadership skills training, and workforce focused on mental health first aid |
Given the modest number of studies that met inclusion criteria for this study, more research is needed to evaluate evidence-based practices that address trauma and stress in criminal justice facilities. Correctional workforce engagement in this process is critical and is a key challenge. The support of senior leadership is required for COs to participate in the design, development and implementation and evaluation of resources. Examples of policy, funding, and systems support for meaningful engagement include meeting time, facility space, and shift coverage to enable CO participation time. Stress and trauma resources need to be evaluated locally to ensure that they are meeting the needs of COs and are feasible to implement with management and leadership support. Finally, senior leaders need to ensure that stress and trauma resources are communicated to COs, are readily accessible, and that COs are given the encouragement and time needed to use the resources.
References
- CITATION1Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS)-U.S. Department of Labor. (2021). Occupational Outlook Handbook, Correctional Officers and Bailiffs. Retrieved on April 12, 2023.
- CITATION2Carson, E.A., & Kluckow, R. (2023) Correctional populations in the United States, 2021— Statistical tables. BJS Statistician. NCJ, 305542.
- CITATION3Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH). (2020). Corrections Workers. Retrieved on April 15, 2023.
Mazen El Ghaziri Ph.D., M.P.H., R.N., is Associate Professor and Associate Chair at the Solomont School of Nursing, University of Massachusetts Lowell. His research specializes in workplace violence, occupational well-being in public safety personnel, and interventions that address work organization using a participatory Total Worker Health® approach.
Lisa Jaegers, Ph.D., O.T.R./L., F.A.O.T.A., is Associate Professor of Occupational Science & Occupational Therapy at Saint Louis University (SLU). She directs the Transformative Justice Initiative, bridging corrections workplace health and the reentry of people incarcerated through the Occupational Therapy Transition and Integration Services program.
Martin Cherniack, M.D., M.P.H., is Professor Emeritus of Occupational Medicine at UConn Health. He is the founding Co-Director of the CPH-NEW and PI of the Health Improvement Through Employee Control (HITEC) study in partnership with the Connecticut Department of Corrections. He serves as consultant on the NIC funded cooperative agreement.
CPH-NEW is a NIOSH Center of Excellence for Total Worker Health. CPH-News & Views is a quarterly blog written by center researchers and guest authors on emerging topics related to healthy workplaces. We welcome your responses and discussions. Please send all comments to CPHNEW@uml.edu.
Total Worker Health® is a registered trademark of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). Participation by CPH-NEW does not imply endorsement by HHS, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, or the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH). This publication was supported by NIOSH Grant Number 1 U19 OH012299 and NIC Cooperative Agreement 20PR08GLF9. Its contents are solely the responsibility of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official views of NIOSH or US Department of Justice.