Abstract
Correctional climate—the perceptions staff and incarcerated people hold about their institution—can influence well-being for everyone living and working in prison. This study explores differences in perceptions of safety, quality of sleep, psychological and emotional wellness, physical health, and overall life outlook among 1,148 security staff, non-security staff, and incarcerated individuals across five Minnesota Department of Corrections facilities. Results indicate that both staff groups report significantly greater safety and sleep quality outcomes than incarcerated people, while security staff also reported better emotional wellness than the incarcerated population. No differences emerged across groups regarding perceived psychological wellness, physical health, or life outlook. These findings highlight both shared experiences and key disparities within correctional environments, underscoring opportunities to improve conditions, support workforce well-being, and advance institutional policies that benefit all people in prison settings.
Plain Language Summary
Prisons are environments where both staff and incarcerated people live or work every day. How people feel about safety, health, and well-being in these settings, often called the correctional climate, can affect everyone inside the facility. Understanding these perceptions can help improve conditions for both staff and incarcerated individuals. This study examined how people in five prisons in Minnesota view their safety, sleep quality, emotional and psychological well-being, physical health, and overall outlook on life. The study included responses from 1,148 people: correctional security staff, non-security staff, and incarcerated individuals. The results showed some important differences. Both security staff and non-security staff reported feeling safer and said they slept better than incarcerated people. Security staff also reported better emotional well-being than incarcerated individuals. However, the three groups reported similar levels of psychological well-being, physical health, and general outlook on life. These findings suggest that people in prisons share some similar experiences but also face different challenges. Understanding these similarities and differences can help correctional leaders develop policies and programs that improve safety, well-being, and working and living conditions for everyone in prison facilities.
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