Date Presented 03/22/24
This scoping review identified resources to address the health and safety of corrections workers and people incarcerated. Studies indicate occupation-based approaches are needed with an integrated approach for health and safety in corrections.
Primary Author and Speaker: Olivia Jayne Hull
Additional Authors and Speakers: Lisa Jaegers, Olivia Breckler
PURPOSE: Improving safety and health for correctional workers and people incarcerated are widespread yet separate initiatives. We sought to contribute to an integrated approach for correctional system safety and health resources by identifying resources that address health promotion among correctional workers and people incarcerated. (1,2,3,4).
DESIGN: Scoping.
METHOD: Guided by PRISMA, articles were required to address both workers of correctional facilities and people incarcerated; and describe intentional examination of intervention impact on both those incarcerated and workers; and distinct outcomes. Two independent reviewers completed full-text screening and compared for discrepancies. Data charting tool was used to extract and capture relevant information on key study characteristics.
RESULTS: Out of 2545 articles, only 16 articles had measurable outcomes for both populations. Resources primarily targeted individual and interpersonal levels. At every level of intervention, resources improved the environment for both workers and those incarcerated, with trends of less conflict, more positive behaviors, improved relations, access to care, and feelings of safety.
CONCLUSION: Since the health and safety needs across the correctional system is complex, the use of an integrated health approach is needed. This review shows that when engagement in work is meaningful and safe for correctional workers, it can be a therapeutic approach to promote health for themselves, and it can improve health and safety for people incarcerated as well. By cultivating meaning and purpose through an occupations-based approach, there is higher potential to address occupations of both workers and people incarcerated for health promotion.
IMPACT STATEMENT: This study provides an overview of the impact of health and safety resources on the correctional system environment and the need for more occupations-based approaches to support both correctional workers and people incarcerated.
References
Ferdik, F. V., & Smith, H. P. (2017). Correctional officer safety and wellness literature synthesis. National Institute of Justice. https://www.ojp.gov/pdffiles1/nij/250484.pdf
El Ghaziri, M., Jaegers, L. A., Monteiro, C. E., Grubb, P. L., & Cherniack, M. G. (2020). Progress in corrections worker health: The national corrections collaborative utilizing a total worker health® strategy. Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, 62(11), 965–972. https://doi.org/10.1097/JOM.0000000000002016
Jaegers, L. A., Matthieu, M. M., Vaughn, M. G., Werth, P., Katz, I. M., & Ahmad, S. O. (2019). Posttraumatic stress disorder and job burnout among jail officers. Journal of ‘Occupational and Environmental Medicine, 61(6), 505–510. https://doi.org/10.1097/JOM.0000000000001600
Worley, R. M., Lambert, E. G., & Worley, V. B. (2022). Can’t shake the prison guard blues: Examining the effects of work stress, job satisfaction, boundary violations, and the mistreatment of inmates on the depressive symptomatology of correctional officers. Criminal Justice Review, 073401682211232. https://doi.org/10.1177/07340168221123229
