Identifying Evidence to Inform Resources for the Reduction of Staff Trauma and Organizational Stress in Prison and Jail Settings

Working in corrections--whether in security, custody, case management, education, healthcare, spiritual services or other job fields--you have a role in supporting the personal and workplace health and well-being of yourself and others. Learn more about the latest evidence-based resources for reducing staff trauma and organizational stress in corrections in this webinar hosted by the National Institute of Corrections (NIC).

Correctional workers are exposed both directly and indirectly to crises that range from provocation to life threatening violence. Correctional officers, case managers, educators, healthcare professionals, chaplains, and other professionals serving jails and prisons are at risk for adverse mental health consequences, including stress, burnout, and psychological distress from traumatic events experienced on the job. Published literature and practices offer a variety of ways to provide corrections workers with resources to reduce severe distress.

This webinar will present the findings from phase 2 of a two-year project with NIC and national correctional stakeholders that was expanded to include corrections officers and other correctional workers. Presenters will share evidence-based resources and propose innovative solutions to reduce correctional staff trauma and organizational stress in jail and prison settings based on the findings from the project’s scoping review and national survey.

Learning Objectives:

• Characterize critical incidents and situations that lead to staff trauma.
• Identify best practices that fit your workplace based on evidence to address staff trauma and organizational stress.
• Identify national commonly used programs (policies, practices, peer support, and training) to address staff trauma and organizational stress and explore their helpfulness and usefulness for correctional workers.
• Understand the difference in attitudes among custody and non-custody staff on the fit and use of programs (policies, practices, peer support, and training) designed to address staff trauma and organizational stress.