NCJ Number
191540
Journal
Corrections Today Volume: 63 Issue: 6 Dated: October 2001 Pages: 112-115
Editor(s)
Susan L. Clayton
Date Published
2001
Length
4 pages
Annotation
This article examined the causes and consequences of stress for correctional officers and reviewed ways of helping correctional officers deal with stress-related problems.
Abstract
In recent years, several circumstances have created increased risk for correctional officers: inmate overcrowding, inmate assaults against correctional staff, the lack of fear by many by offenders toward correctional officers, and the presence of gangs. This article reviews the reasons for correctional officer stress, describes stress-related problems and examines the consequences of stress. It is argued that a stress awareness program is necessary to alleviate the stress felt by correctional officers. Many agencies are forming peer support and Critical Stress Debriefing (CISD) teams to reduce the effects of traumatic events on correctional officers and their families. Developing and maintaining a successful stress program is difficult. Correctional agencies must address several issues to ensure that their programs will be effective. They must appoint talented and dedicated staff who can cope with the stress that comes with helping others who are experiencing stress. They need to secure the participation of top administrators, union officers, and family members. They must maintain confidentiality and provide an array of services, not just debriefings, after a critical incident, train supervisors to spot and refer officers who may be experiencing stress, and change the correctional organization to reduce officer stress. Finally, they must monitor program activities and evaluate their effectiveness in reducing stress.