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Purpose: A key aspect of psychologically informed planned environments (PIPEs), are the attachment theory-informed relationships between residents and staff (Bainbridge, 2017). The key-work provision of one-to-one support from officers to residents is one of the main ways through which relationships are formed. The purpose of this paper is to explore prison officers' experiences of the key-work role within a PIPE in a women's Prison in England. Design/methodology/approach: Semi-structured interviews explored ten prison officers' experiences. Interviews were analysed using thematic analysis. Findings: Five main themes were identified; "Professional support", "Negotiating Professional Boundaries", "A Successful Relationship", "Rupture and Repair" and "Growth for Everyone". These themes reflected the framework around keywork; what support officers need to cope with the emotional demands of the role, and how to manage challenging situations and build meaningful key-work relationships. Research limitations/implications: Limitations include the lack of focus on diversity, the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on officer experience and applicability to other PIPE services. Future research could address some of these limitations. Practical implications: Practical implications highlight the need for consistent supervision, greater consideration of officers' transition to the role and trauma-informed training. Originality/value: The research provides an unprecedented account of prison officers' experiences of the key-work role, adding to the limited literature within PIPEs in the women's estate. The supportive nature of the key-work relationship was perceived by officers to contribute towards people's sentence progression and officers' personal and professional development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Positive effects of Positive Behavior Intervention and Supports (PBIS) frameworks have been reported in juvenile justice facilities but have not yet been extended to adult prisons. As part of initial PBIS development in a large prison in the United Kingdom, this study utilized focus groups to investigate the valued outcomes considered most important to prison officers and prisoners. We found that although prisoners and staff largely shared the same values, there were meaningful differences in their relative priorities, reflecting the disparate roles that each play in the functioning of the prison. Focus groups also revealed possible contextual barriers to PBIS implementation in this setting. We conclude that input from both parties is essential in designing values-based support strategies that are aligned across key stakeholders. We discuss how focus groups might inform PBIS intervention planning and how our findings point to specific research gaps in applying PBIS in adult prisons. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Trans people are incarcerated at disproportionately high rates relative to cisgender people and are at increased risk of negative experiences while incarcerated, including poor mental health, violence, sexual abuse, dismissal of self-identity, including poor access to healthcare. Aims: This scoping review sought to identify what is known about the knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors of correctional staff toward incarcerated trans people within the adult and juvenile justice systems. Method: This scoping review was conducted in accordance with the five-stage iterative process developed by Arksey and O’Malley (2005), utilizing the PRISMA guidelines and checklist for scoping reviews and included an appraisal of included papers. A range of databases and grey literature was included. Literature was assessed against predetermined inclusion and exclusion criteria, with included studies written in English, online full text availability, and reported data relevant to the research question. Results: Seven studies were included with four using qualitative methodologies, one quantitative, and two studies employing a mixed methods approach. These studies provided insights into the systemic lack of knowledge and experience of correctional staff working with trans people, including staff reporting trans issues are not a carceral concern, and carceral settings not offering trans-affirming training to their staff. Within a reform-based approach these findings could be interpreted as passive ignorance and oversights stressing the importance of organizational policies and leadership needing to set standards for promoting the health and wellbeing of incarcerated trans persons. Conclusions: From a transformational lens, findings from this study highlight the urgent need to address the underlying structural, systemic, and organizational factors that impact upon the knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors staff have and hold in correctional, and other health and community settings to meaningfully and sustainably improve health, wellbeing, and gender-affirming treatment and care for trans communities, including make possible alternative methods of accountability for those who do harms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Since prisons were an epicenter of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, the experience of correctional health care professionals (HCPs) may differ from HCPs in other settings. This cross-sectional descriptive study assessed stress, anxiety, and burnout levels in home and work environments among HCPs employed by one U.S. state prison system during the period of initial COVID-19 vaccine rollout. Participants (N = 444) were invited to voluntarily participate in an anonymous questionnaire distributed by prison administration from March 1 through May 17, 2021. Measures were adapted from a prior study of noncorrectional HCPs during the COVID-19 pandemic. Descriptive statistics (mean; standard deviation; 25th, 50th, and 75th percentiles), ranking measures that could alleviate anxiety and stress related to the pandemic, and qualitative responses were analyzed. Responses from 43% of HCPs (192) revealed that correctional HCPs experienced high levels of stress and anxiety at work and at home during the pandemic, with particularly high levels among females and registered nurses. Understanding and addressing these stressors will be of critical importance as prison systems work to avoid turnover of experienced HCPs in such specialized settings and also help inform human resource planning at state prison systems for future public health responses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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The present study evaluated the validity of Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory-3 (MMPI-3) scores among police (n = 1,294), correctional officer (n = 190), dispatcher (n = 205), and firefighter (n = 237) candidates using psychosocial history data collected with the Psychological History Questionnaire (PsyQ) at a private practice in the Northwestern United States. MMPI-3 scale elevations at T score cutoffs specified in the MMPI-3 User's Guide for the Public Safety Candidate Interpretive Reports (Corey & Ben-Porath, 2022) were examined. Consistent with previous research using the MMPI-2-RF, MMPI-3 T score means were lower and less variable in this public safety preemployment context relative to the normative sample. In addition, MMPI-3 scores were meaningfully associated with a number of aggregated scale scores derived from PsyQ data, particularly in the behavioral/externalizing domain. To address limited research on preemployment personality testing among female police candidates and the absence of research among nonpolice public safety occupations, Cohen's q was used to compare validity coefficients across male and female police candidates and across police and correctional officer, dispatcher, and firefighter candidates. Differences were minimal, with all statistically significant effects being small in magnitude, indicating the MMPI-3 correlates identified with police candidates replicate to other public safety positions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Burnout is a recognized risk factor for poor organizational commitment across occupational groups. This has not been explored among Sri Lankan prison officers previously. The aim of this article is to identify whether burnout was an associated risk factor for poor organizational commitment in this occupational group. A cross-sectional study was conducted among 1803 prison correctional and rehabilitation officers in 32 prison institutions across the country. Multistage sampling was used. The "Organizational Commitments Questionnaire" was used following judgmental validation. Risk factors identified through literature were analyzed using bivariate analysis, followed by logistic regression analysis. Three-hundred and sixty-six participants (20.3%) had poor organizational commitment. Burnout was found significant in the bivariate analysis, and in the logistic regression analysis at P < 0.001 (odds ratio: 2.2, 95% confidence interval: 1.7--2.8). Burnout was an associated risk factor for poor organizational commitment in Sri Lankan prison officers. Interventions for employee burnout would contribute to improved organizational commitment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The COVID-19 pandemic had several repercussions on prison staff, but the currently available evidence has mainly ignored these effects. This qualitative study aimed to understand the impact of COVID-19 on the prison system through the narratives of health and security professionals, using the methodological framework of the constructivist grounded theory proposed by Charmaz. The sample included 10 healthcare workers and 10 security professionals. Data collection took place between October and November 2022 through individual in-depth interviews. The data were analyzed using the MaxQDA software. Three categories of interrelated data emerged: (1) "Confrontation and disruption" caused by the COVID-19 pandemic in the prison system; (2) "Between disinfodemic and solicitude" referring to the tension between information management and the practice of care centered on the needs of inmates; and, finally, (3) "Reorganization and mitigation strategies during the fight against COVID-19". Continuous education and the development of specific skills are essential to enable professionals to face the challenges and complex demands that arise in prison contexts. The daily routines professionals had previously taken for granted were disrupted by COVID-19. Thus, investing in adequate training and emotional support programs is crucial to promote the resilience and well-being of these professionals, ensuring an efficient and quality response to critical events. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Patients experiencing incarceration face a multitude of healthcare disparities. These patients are disproportionately affected by a variety of chronic medical conditions. Patients who are incarcerated often remain shackled throughout their hospital course, experience bias from members of the healthcare team, and have many barriers to privacy given the omnipresence of corrections officers. Despite this, many physicians report little formal training on caring for this unique patient population. In this narrative review, we examine the current literature on patients who are incarcerated, especially as it pertains to their care in the emergency department (ED). We also propose solutions to address these barriers to care in the ED setting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Justice-involved populations are at an elevated risk for infectious disease transmission and have been profoundly negatively impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Vaccination is being utilized as a primary tool for prevention and protection from serious infection in carceral settings. We examined the barriers and facilitators to vaccine distribution by surveying key stakeholders--sheriffs and corrections officers--in these settings. Most respondents felt prepared for rollout, although they still identified significant barriers to operationalization of vaccine distribution. Barriers ranked highest by stakeholders were vaccine hesitancy and problems related to deficits in communication and planning. There is enormous opportunity to install practices that will address the significant barriers being faced to efficient vaccine distribution and amplify existing facilitators. These could include, for example, the incorporation of in-person community communication models for discussion of the vaccine (and hesitancy) in carceral facilities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Research indicates that, relative to the general public and most other types of public safety personnel, correctional workers are more likely to engage in suicide ideation, planning, and attempts. Yet, less is known about lived experiences towards, of, and beyond suicidality among correctional staff. To contribute to this gap in knowledge, the current study draws on qualitative, open‐ended survey response data (n = 94) to explore how Canadian provincial correctional workers navigate experiences of suicide, with a focus on the individual, personal, and social factors tied to experiences towards and of suicide thoughts and behaviours. By engaging the seminal works of Foucault, Žižek, and Deleuze and Guattari, we explore respondents' distinct forms of agency when grappling with, challenging, and transcending thoughts around suicide. We then discuss the research implications, with an emphasis on providing correctional workers with confidential, non‐stigmatised well‐being and treatment‐seeking resources and processes, and more health care funding to fully cover timely and sufficient mental health treatment, prevention, and intervention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Individuals with criminal legal system (CLS) involvement experience opioid use disorder (OUD) at elevated rates when compared to their non-justice involved counterparts. Medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD) are efficacious but underutilized within this population. Interpersonal relationships and stigma play salient roles in the outcomes of OUD treatment. This study examines prison-based treatment staff perspectives on how familial networks and stigma interact to impact one's decision of whether to initiate MOUD while in prison in Kentucky. A coding team analyzed qualitative interviews with prison-based clinicians (n = 23) and administrators (n = 9) collected from the G eographic variation in A ddiction T reatment E xperiences (GATE) study using NVivo software. The study analyzed excerpts associated with the primary codes of "stigma" and "social networks" and the secondary code of "family" in order to assess the relationship between familial stigma and MOUD initiation from treatment staff viewpoints. Arising themes suggest that clients' families' lack of MOUD knowledge plays a crucial role in perpetuating related stigma, that this stigma often materializes as a belief that MOUD is a continuation of illicit substance use and that stigma levels vary across MOUD forms (e.g., more stigma towards agonists than antagonists). These findings carry implications for better understanding how intervention stigma within one's familial network impacts prison-based medication initiation decisions. Resulting themes suggest support for continued expansion of efforts by Kentucky Department of Corrections to involve participant families in education and treatment initiatives to reduce intervention stigma and increase treatment utilization. • Familial networks of justice-involved individuals carry stigmatizing views of MOUD. • Families view MOUD as a continuation of illicit opioid use. • MOUD stigma varies across medication forms (i.e., more stigma towards agonists). • Prison-based treatment staff cite a need for family-involved MOUD education. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fear of contamination is central to our thinking about 'dirty work', that is, tasks and occupations that carry a stigma owing to being perceived as having degrading, disgusting, or immoral qualities. However, most existing literature focuses on the symbolic dimension of taint – particularly, dirty workers' cognitive, ideological tactics to counter taint. Although contamination has more material consequences, the processes through which it is experienced and contained in dirty work have not yet been well explicated. Drawing on an ethnographic study of work in two Danish prisons, this article offers an opportunity to see behind the walls and gain insight into the extreme emotional dirty work of prison officers as they face burdensome emotional encounters with manipulative and intimidating inmates. As society's agent in the containment of inmates' emotional dirt, officers, as emotional labourers, risk contamination if they give in to inmates' pressure and manipulation and do them illicit favours. I use embodied phenomenology as an original and fertile approach to deepen the understanding of how contamination occurs in emotional dirty work and the bodily responses that workers engage in to resist it. Drawing on these findings, I extend our understanding of emotional dirty work. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As prison-based hospice programs are slowly implemented across the United States, scarce attention has been devoted to the views of correctional staff who provide essential end-of-life care to dying incarcerated individuals. These professionals must maneuver their diverse responsibilities and emotional perspectives to deliver compassionate care to a marginalized population. A textual analysis of narratives of correctional staff participating in the hospice program at Louisiana State Penitentiary was incorporated to explore the transformative experiences resulting from staff members’ collaboration with incarcerated volunteers to dispense hospice-based care for critically ill incarcerated individuals. Prevalent themes focus on provider identity, role satisfaction, bonds with incarcerated individuals, and achieving care mandates. Future research should further examine end-of-life care provider narratives to effectively address the unmet needs of dying incarcerated individuals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Correctional officers' personal resources, such as psychological capital (PsyCap), may help them better manage their work environment in the penitentiary; however, there is limited research on the relationship between indicators of well-being and types of demands in this cohort and whether this relationship depends on PsyCap. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to examine three types of demands (job, personal, and group) and the effect of each on three indicators of low well-being: burnout, physical and mental health complaints. We also tested the potential moderating role of PsyCap in the relationship between the three types of demands and indicators of well-being. METHODS: The potential moderating role of personal resources (PsyCap) between demands and well-being was tested via hierarchical multiple regression on a sample of 350 correctional officers. RESULTS: Results show that psychological capital attenuates the effect of personal distress and negative team relationships on all three indicators of low well-being. Psychological capital also moderates the relation between work-family conflict and mental health complaints. However, it does not act as a moderator between work-family conflict and burnout or physical health complaints. CONCLUSIONS: The findings are of value because they emphasize the importance of psychological capital, as a personal and malleable resource, for the occupational health of correctional officers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Drawing on self-reported mental health survey data among provincial correctional workers, we found over half of respondents screened positive for a mental health disorders, most often Major Depressive Disorder. We found an association between positive mental health screens and lifetime and past year suicidal behaviors. Objective: We examined the prevalence ofmental health disorders and suicidal behaviors (ideation, planning, and attempts) among a sample of provincial correctional workers in Manitoba. Methods: Self-reported mental health data from a survey on correctional worker mental health and well-being were analyzed for 491 correctional workers. Results: Over half (57%) of respondents screened positive for mental health disorder, most commonly major depressive disorder, and over one-third of respondents (37%) screened positive for more than one disorder. Positive mental health screens for all mental health disorders were associated with statistically significantly increased odds of lifetime suicidal ideation, and positive screens for most disorders were associated with past year suicidal ideation. Conclusions: Relative to other public safety personnel and the general public, correctional workers appear have a higher prevalence of mental health disorders and suicidal behaviors. The association between positive screens for mental health disorders and suicidal behaviors highlights the vulnerability of correctional workers in regards to mental well-being. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background A comprehensive smokefree prison policy (SFPP) was introduced in Scottish prisons from November 2018, reflecting concern about inequalities in occupational exposures to second-hand smoke (SHS) and tobacco-related harms among people in custody (PiC). We aimed to address a gap, whereby few studies have sought to understand SFPP from the perspectives of people living and working in prisons. Methods As part of a comprehensive evaluation, focus groups and interviews with staff (n = 99) and interviews with PiC (n = 23) were conducted 6–9 months post-implementation of SFPP in Scotland. Data were analysed using the framework approach. Results Our study found that new restrictions on smoking had been widely accepted by PiC, after a period of adjustment which was less troublesome than participants had anticipated. Benefits of the SFPP for the safety and comfort of staff and PiC who were no longer exposed to SHS, and additionally for the health of PiC who were now smoking-abstinent, were widely acknowledged. Drawbacks of the SFPP, such as difficulties managing without tobacco and use of alternatives (e.g. e-cigarettes and changes in use of illegal drugs), were also reported. Contraband tobacco was not reported to be a major problem following prisons becoming smokefree. Conclusions The findings strengthen evidence that SFPPs can be implemented without causing major disruption and highlight the need for removal of tobacco to be underpinned by careful planning, partnership working and ensuring the availability of support for smokers. Experiences from Scotland may be of interest and some comfort, internationally for jurisdictions considering smoke-free rules in prisons. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We know little about potentially psychologically traumatic events (PPTE) exposures among provincial correctional workers in diverse occupational positions and even less regarding how exposure to events are associated with mental health disorders. We designed the current study to unpack and quantify estimates of the frequencies that correctional workers, across occupational roles, experience exposure to diverse incidents. We categorized 1,338 of our 1,487 participants into six occupational categories and our measures included established self-report items measuring PPTE exposure and mental disorder symptoms. Almost all correctional workers reported exposures to most PPTE types. Correctional workers collectively report exposures to physical assault (90.2%) and sudden violent death (81.8%), with many (3.1%-46%) reporting 11+ exposures (M = 10.01, SD = 4.29). We found significant differences in exposure patterns across correctional worker categories; specifically, we found a higher prevalence of exposure to toxic substances, physical assault, assault with a weapon, severe human suffering, sudden accidental or sudden violent death, among those working in institutional correctional services (e.g., governance, correctional officers). PPTE exposure and all assessed mental health disorder symptom profiles were closely related, as correctional workers report high exposure to PPTE. Population attributable fractions indicated that the burden of mental disorders among provincial correction workers might be reduced by between 38%-70% if PPTE exposures were eliminated from the population. We conclude with recommendations for mental health related policies, such as investing in peer and psychologically support, as well as interventions for exposure to PPTE and readiness to inform strategies for employee mental health and well-being. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Correctional officers are exposed to violence more often than many other public service workers, yet little is known about the traumatic nature of these risks. We examine violence exposure and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) among a large, multi-facility sample of jail officers. Method: One thousand three hundred and sixty five officers working in 20 jails were surveyed regarding background characteristics, exposure to violence at work, and post-traumatic stress symptoms measured by the PTSD Checklist for DSM-5 (PCL-5). Results: About one-third of the sample met the criteria for a "provisional PTSD Diagnosis" or "probable PTSD".' Victimization and exposure to violence, both in and outside of work, significantly contributed to PTSD symptoms. Conclusions: Findings highlight the severity of, and link between, exposure to violence and PTSD among jail officers. Implications for diagnosing, treating, and preventing PTSD among jail officers are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

COVID-19 is ravaging US prisons. Prison residents and staff must be prioritized for vaccination, but a rapidly mutating virus and high rates of continued spread require an urgent, coordinated public health response. Based on knowledge accumulated from the pandemic thus far, we have identified 10 pressing public health priorities for responding to COVID-19 in prisons: (1) accelerate population reduction coupled with community reentry support, (2) improve prison ventilation systems, (3) ensure appropriate mask use, (4) limit transfers between facilities, (5) strengthen partnerships between public health departments and prison leadership, (6) introduce or maintain effective occupational health programs, (7) ensure access to advance care planning processes for incarcerated patients and delineation of patient health care rights, (8) strengthen partnerships between prison leadership and incarcerated people, (9) provide emergency mental health support for prison residents and staff, and (10) commit to public accountability and transparency. Dedicated prison leaders cannot accomplish these public health priorities alone. We must mobilize prison leaders, staff, and residents; public health departments; community advocates; and policymakers to work together to address the pandemic's outsized impact in US prisons. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Prisons are uniquely challenging working environments. Staff are often exposed to direct and indirect trauma, impacting negatively on their mental well-being. Due to the limited research into prison staff experience, this paper aims to explore what staff find most challenging, how they cope, what support they would like and rewarding aspects of their work. Design/methodology/approach: This service development project was facilitated through a staff well-being event. A qualitative approach was used and 74 staff members provided anonymised responses. An inductive and data-driven approach was used to analyse the data, and the trustworthiness of the analysis was considered using criteria established by Lincoln and Guba (1985). Findings: Thematic analysis identified six themes, namely, the challenging nature of the work, interactions with prisoners, staff interactions, inadequate resources, staff support and development and coping strategies. Key findings include managing distress, self-harm and violence and limited resources presenting challenges. Role variety and opportunities to support prisoners were reported as positive. A variety of coping strategies were identified. Wider availability of supervision and reflective practice was suggested by staff. Practical implications: Recommendations for increased staff support are made. Suggestions for future research investigating methods to increase rewarding aspects of work within prisons are given. Originality/value: This analysis adds to the limited body of qualitative research investigating prison staff experiences; in particular, aspects of the work that they find rewarding such as the role variety and opportunities to make positive changes to prisoners' lives. Novel coping strategies were identified, including cognitive reframing and behavioural strategies for managing stress, which could be encouraged to increase resilience. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article explores the ways in which creative, multimodal methods are well-suited to research with groups holding multifaceted roles within complex systems. The potential benefits of using imaginative methods in qualitative inquiry will be discussed in relation to the participants, organisation and researcher. The first author's ongoing doctoral project is discussed, which employs a creative, multimodal method combining vlogs and interviews for data collection to explore prison officers' (POs) emotional experiences of their complex work roles. The PO role is multifaceted and requires the balancing of competing demands, such as discipline and rehabilitation, within the complex prison environment. Given the intricacies of the PO role and prison system, the question of why multimodal methods are particularly well-suited to research with this group shall be explored. The article will begin with an overview of the complexities of the PO experience, and then consider how multimodal methods might address these multiplicities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Prison populations are growing globally with an increase in older and infirm prisoners, as well as longer prison sentences, meaning more prisoners are likely to die while incarcerated. This scoping review explored the experiences of death in prison custody on staff and relatives. Ovid MEDLINE, Embase, CINAHL and PsycINFO were professionally searched, followed by a hand search. Empirical and non-empirical studies of deaths in prison custody were screened. Data extraction used Arksey and O'Malley's framework. Thematic analysis was underpinned by Braun and Clarke for identifying, analysing and reporting patterns. From 12,127 citations retrieved, 174 were selected for full-text review and 22 were included in the final scoping review. Thematic analysis revealed four themes: (i) transformative effect, (ii) time delays, (iii) conflicts of interest and (iv) support. Prison staff avoided contaminating their personal lives. Families were distressed by inaccurate and untimely information, inappropriate constraints and poor communication. Staff balanced security and humanitarian needs. Bereaved relatives and staff felt isolated, alienated and unsupported. Unmet advocacy, communication and social care needs, poor end-of-life and bereavement care could be improved through staff training and social work intervention. Staff need psychosocial support, supervision and counselling. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to explore the social climate of therapeutic wings and mainstream wings within one prison, to identify positive areas of social climate that can be built upon and areas for improvement. Design/methodology/approach: In total, 1,054 social climate questionnaires (the Essen Climate Evaluation Schema – EssenCES) were sent to prisoner-facing staff and all prisoners within an English Category B prison holding indeterminate sentenced prisoners. Perceptions of social climate on therapeutic wings and mainstream wings and perceptions of social climate between staff and prisoners were compared. Findings: The results showed that the therapeutic wings felt safer, there were better staff-prisoner relationships and there was better peer support among prisoners than people on the mainstream wings. Also, prisoners felt safer than staff, staff rated the overall social climate as more positive than prisoners and staff felt that they supported prisoners, but prisoners did not feel the same. Research limitations/implications: The main limitation is that the EssenCES measure does not explain the participants' ratings of the social climate. Practical implications: There is a need to transfer the principles and values of therapeutic wings to mainstream wings. In addition, there is significant room for improvement in the social climate of this prison. Originality/value: This is the first study to compare the social climate of therapeutic and mainstream wings within one single prison. The research has a valuable contribution to the development of positive social climates conducive to better clinical outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This paper aims to explore the impact of stressors and the strategies staff use to cope with these at a detention facility. It documents through case studies some of the triggers of trauma, possible coping mechanisms that might assist in navigating the associated stressors in a workplace and recommendations as to what might assist staff. Design/methodology/approach: A naturalist approach was used in this research, using an ethnographic qualitative methodology. Grounded theory assisted in the analysis of the data to capture naturalistically the subjective experience of the participants of the study. Conversations occurred with staff who had worked in a detention facility using face to face semi-structured interviews. The structure was open-ended to allow the staff to discuss and share their experiences freely. Findings: Stressors that impacted staff working in a detention facility resulted from areas such as heightened reactions from detainees because of the length of their detainment, detainee self-harm, dealing with the effects of an increase of substance abuse through detainees obtaining contraband and the associated violent reactions that can occur as a result. Adverse symptoms noted within the lives of staff included acute anxiety, sleeplessness, depression and tension within impersonal relationships, including family. What compounded the issue was staffs' reluctance to talk about work stressors. Research limitations/implications: The research used nine participants for case studies of staff who had formerly experienced various adverse impacts of stressors. This is not a comprehensive study, however, of the broader experiences of staff at an Australian detention facility. It does provide, however, a snapshot of the experiences of a small group who had significantly been impacted by the stressors of the workplace. Practical implications: This paper provides fresh perspectives or initiatives that are needed to assist staff to navigate the changing environment of working in a detention facility. In particular, some support mechanisms and protective factors that could be put in place to curb the negative impact of stressors in the workplace and to mitigate against long term stress disorders developing in the personal lives of staff. Social implications: Many staff are not getting the help they need to cope with the emotional distress they experience in their workplace. However, there are practical interventions to support staff in managing the stressors they face. These will be outlined in this article. Originality/value: This study was carried out with the goal of giving staff a voice and to capture their former experiences in their vocational responsibilities in a venue that has had very limited research attention. This study has presented the challenges staff faced in a unique venue of working in a detention facility. It has documented some of the common stressors staff faced, the impact of such and some coping mechanisms used to handle them. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Importance: Jail officers are an underserved population of public safety workers at high risk for developing chronic mental health conditions. Objective: In response to national calls for the examination of stressors related to the unique work contexts of correctional facilities, we implemented a pilot study informed by the Total Worker Health® (TWH) strategy at two urban and two rural jails. Design: Participatory teams guided areas of interest for a mixed-data needs assessment, including surveys with 320 jail officers to inform focus groups (N = 40). Setting: Urban and rural jails in the midwestern United States. Participants: Jail correctional officers and sheriff's deputies employed at participating jails. Measures: We measured mental health characteristics using the Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System Global Mental Health scale, the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression scale, and the two-item Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Checklist. Constructs to identify workplace characteristics included emotional support, work–family conflict, dangerousness, health climate, organizational operations, effectiveness of training, quality of supervision, and organizational fairness. Results: On the basis of general population estimates, we found that jail officers were at higher risk for mental health disorders, including depression and posttraumatic stress disorder. Jail officers identified workplace health interventions to address individual-, interpersonal-, institutional-, and community-level needs. Conclusion: Implementation of a TWH needs assessment in urban and rural jails to identify evidence-informed, multilevel interventions was found to be feasible. Using this assessment, we identified specific workplace health protection and promotion solutions. What This Article Adds: Results from this study support the profession's vision to influence policies, environments, and systems through collaborative work. This TWH study has implications for practice and research by addressing mental health needs among jail officers and by providing practical applications to create evidence-informed, tailored interventions to promote workplace health in rural and urban jails. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With a prison population of approximately 9000 women in England, it is estimated that approximately 600 pregnancies and 100 births occur annually. Despite an extensive literature on the sociology of reproduction, pregnancy and childbirth among women prisoners is under‐researched. This article reports an ethnographic study in three English prisons undertaken in 2015‐2016, including interviews with 22 prisoners, six women released from prison and 10 staff members. Pregnant prisoners experience numerous additional difficulties in prison including the ambiguous status of a pregnant prisoner, physical aspects of pregnancy and the degradation of the handcuffed or chained prisoner during visits to the more public setting of hospital. This article draws on Erving Goffman's concepts of closed institutions, dramaturgy and mortification of self, Crewe et al.'s work on the gendered pains of imprisonment and Crawley's notion of 'institutional thoughtlessness', and proposes a new concept of institutional ignominy to understand the embodied situation of the pregnant prisoner. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article offers information on improvements in psychological health. Topics include considered that Yoga improves psychological and occupational well-being in professional populations that experience high levels of stress; and demonstrate that purpose of study is to explore a longer-term follow up of the experimental group of a waitlist-controlled trial of a yoga-based program.

Violence in the workplace has serious consequences for employees and organizations. Based on a survey in early 2012 among employees from all work areas of 89 of the total 112 correctional facilities in Switzerland resulting in a sample of 2,045 employees (response rate 48.5%), this study (a) analyzed whether victimization has an impact on correctional staff burnout, (b) tested the hypothetical mediating role of sense of security in the relationship between victimization and burnout, and (c) included gender and job characteristics because work experiences and exposure to violence of staff differ strongly with gender and work tasks. Two different forms of violence were considered: (a) experienced violence (inmates-on-staff) and (b) observed violence (inmate-on-inmate). Analysis was carried out using structural equation modeling. Results show that victimization and witnessing violence between inmates negatively affect the personal sense of security and increase correctional staff burnout. In addition, the sense of security mediated the effect from experienced and observed violence on burnout. Gender and job characteristics also proved to be important. This is especially true for staff working as correctional officers and for employees working with young inmates and with inmates awaiting trial who reported a greater exposure to violence and a lower sense of security. The study adds to the knowledge on violence and its outcomes in corrections and contributes to the literature on the consequences of workplace violence in general and, specifically, in social service occupations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the United States, institutional corrections is a major undertaking that requires substantial financial resources. Correctional staff are the essential element to ensuring the safety and security of these institutions, which house approximately 2.2 million adults. Thus, it is invaluable to explore work environment variables that contribute to their success. One area that has received scant attention is staff views of inmate medical care and their effect on job involvement and organizational commitment. This study focused on the effects of views concerning the proper handling of inmate infectious diseases, the quality of medical care provided to inmates, the timeliness of the responses to inmate medical needs, turnover of medical staff, and inmate medical privacy rights. Results indicate that proper handling of inmate infectious diseases and quality of medical care positively increase job involvement and organizational commitment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: The work of nurses and correctional officers alike has long been pointed at as among the most stressful in the world. OBJECTIVE: The primary aim was to evaluate the prevalence and level of occupational burnout among 214 hospital nurses and 201 correctional officers from Bulgaria. One of the focuses was to examine whether gender roles or occupational roles were more related to burnout. METHODS: The current work used a descriptive cross-sectional inter-occupational comparative survey design. The participation was voluntary, individually and anonymously without any financial compensation. The only qualification in the sample selection was that the employee had direct contact with patients and inmates respectively. A translated MBI-Bulgarian version was used to measure burnout. Data were entered into SPSS17.0 to carry out data analysis. RESULTS: The level of emotional exhaustion and personal accomplishment of nurses were significantly higher than that of correctional officers. Mean depersonalization score of correctional officers was significantly higher than that of nurses. Correctional officers demonstrated a higher prevalence of burnout syndrome compared with nurses. To examine whether gender is associated with burnout, Mann-Whitney U test was utilized to assess gender differences of correctional officers. Our results suggest that being male or female is not a critical determinant of burnout. CONCLUSION: Correctional officers were found to have a higher prevalence of burnout syndrome compared with nurses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Stanford Prison Experiment (SPE) is one of the most famous studies in the history of psychology. For nearly a half century it has been understood to show that assigning people to a toxic role will, on its own, unlock the human capacity to treat others with cruelty. In contrast, principles of identity leadership argue that roles are unlikely to elicit cruelty unless leaders encourage potential perpetrators to identify with what is presented as a noble ingroup cause and to believe their actions are necessary for the advancement of that cause. Although identity leadership has been implicated in behavior ranging from electoral success to obedience to authority, researchers have hitherto had limited capacity to establish whether role conformity or identity leadership provides a better account of the cruelty observed in the SPE. Through examination of material in the SPE archive, we present comprehensive evidence that, rather than guards conforming to role of their own accord, experimenters directly encouraged them to adopt roles and act tough in a manner consistent with tenets of identity leadership. Implications for the analysis of conformity and cruelty as well as for interpretation of the SPE are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Stanford Prison Experiment (SPE) is one of psychology's most famous studies. It has been criticized on many grounds, and yet a majority of textbook authors have ignored these criticisms in their discussions of the SPE, thereby misleading both students and the general public about the study's questionable scientific validity. Data collected from a thorough investigation of the SPE archives and interviews with 15 of the participants in the experiment further question the study's scientific merit. These data are not only supportive of previous criticisms of the SPE, such as the presence of demand characteristics, but provide new criticisms of the SPE based on heretofore unknown information. These new criticisms include the biased and incomplete collection of data, the extent to which the SPE drew on a prison experiment devised and conducted by students in one of Zimbardo's classes 3 months earlier, the fact that the guards received precise instructions regarding the treatment of the prisoners, the fact that the guards were not told they were subjects, and the fact that participants were almost never completely immersed by the situation. Possible explanations of the inaccurate textbook portrayal and general misperception of the SPE's scientific validity over the past 5 decades, in spite of its flaws and shortcomings, are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Delivering health care within the prison walls poses distinct and arduous challenges to the practitioner. Correctional health workers regularly face issues of overcrowding, increased prevalence of infectious disease, advancing age, deteriorating conditions, and patients with an inclination for violence. Still, regardless of the sizeable workforce, costs, and impact on community well-being, correctional health is often overlooked in health services delivery research. Purpose: The aim of this study was to better understand the unique nature of delivering services in the prison context through the lens of social identity theory and further explore practitioner satisfaction and retention. Methodology/Approach: A survey design was used in this study, sampling clinicians in a state department of corrections in the United States. Using the data from 317 respondents, the study explored the relationship between professional identification and perceived organizational support as they impact job satisfaction and turnover intention and while controlling for burnout. Results: Using nested ordinary least squares regression and nested logistic regression, the results showed that professional identification and perceived organizational support were positively associated with job satisfaction. Perceived organizational support was negatively and significantly related to turnover intentions. Conclusion: This article adds originality and value to the literature by using social identity theory to address the occupational perceptions of a large, yet often underrepresented and underexplored, subsector of the health workforce. Practice Implications: The results highlight several areas where health care managers, whether from correctional or noncorrectional environments, could implement policy and procedure changes to further engage and retain the clinical workforce. To engage and retain the health worker population, managers must consider identification-reinforcing interventions that align with the self-concept and visibly display gestures of organizational support. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigated experiences of trauma and psychosocial mediators in correctional staff who had dealt with a death in custody within the previous year. A total of 211 participants completed the Trauma Symptom Index as well as measures of self-efficacy, optimism, problem-solving style, social support, and growth. The data showed that around 32% of participants were exhibiting symptoms at a clinical level. Prior experience with suicide and level of involvement in the incident were direct predictors of symptom level. Support, optimism, self-efficacy, and confidence in problem-solving seemed to be potential protective factors and were also predictive of trauma-related growth. Although the study was cross sectional, the data suggest that it may be possible to predict factors that are protective and therefore offer some hope in terms of developing preventive strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Transgender persons are at increased risk of victimization during incarceration and have unique health care needs. We convened a symposium of 27 key stakeholders to develop consensus on correctional policy, practice, and clinical care considerations for incarcerated transgender persons. Participants included formerly justice-involved transgender persons, correctional leaders, government authorities, academicians, advocates, health care providers, and expert consultants. Consensus considerations were developed in four areas: correctional practices that promote safety and respectful interactions with transgender inmates, training of correctional staff, health care delivery, and reentry to the community. Gaps in knowledge and practice in these four areas were also identified. A collaborative stakeholder model is an effective strategy to convene disparate groups who infrequently communicate with one another to help advance correctional policies and clinical care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The aim of this study was to explore posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptom prevalence and health characteristics among jail correctional officers, a generally understudied population of public safety workers. Method: A Conservation of Resources (COR)-inspired framework explored relationships to PTSD symptoms among jail officers (A = 320) employed in Midwest US jails. Results: More than half (53.4%) of jail officers screened positively for PTSD. Hierarchical regression analysis indicates that burnout was a significant predictor of symptoms of PTSD (B = 0.25, 5 <0.001). Self-efficacy (B = -0.42, P <0.01), emotional labor (B = 0.20, P <0.01), and an anxiety- or depression-related diagnosis (B = 0.92, P <0.001) remained significant predictors of PTSD-related symptoms in the final step. Conclusions: Our findings highlight the potentially high prevalence and impact of PTSD among jail officers, and offer implications for public safety workplace health interventions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Correctional staff suffer high rates of posttraumatic stress disorder compared to military veterans, and the suicide rate among correctional officers is twice as high as that of both police officers and the general population and higher than that of all other professions combined. Correctional facilities' physician employees are at risk of not only burnout but also other adverse mental health effects related to working in a correctional facility. Prison reform efforts should address the needs of both inmates and clinical staff. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Prisons are rigidly structured institutions housing—in some cases—violent and unstable residents. To discover the positive job attributes and perceived challenges in this extreme practice environment, we employed exploratory qualitative content analysis on the written-in responses of 269 prison health workers in one state's Department of Corrections. Two researchers independently analyzed and coded the data. Using an iterative process, we categorized the responses into themes and critical underlying meanings. Positive job attributes included meaningful work, stability, variety of ailments treated, and feelings of support. Perceived challenges included ineffective leadership, constraints on the ability to effectively execute the role, perceived inequity, and organizational culture. The results of our study suggest that there are lessons to be learned from correctional health workers that could inform policy and management outside of the prison walls specifically as it pertains to motivating and engaging providers through meaningful work. Specifically, health organizations would improve the experience of their clinicians by offering a broader scope of practice experience, schedule stability, reducing bureaucratic redundancies, and—ultimately—restoring the sense of purpose within the work itself. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: The frequency of being exposed to work-related violence and threats is high in employees working in the human service sector. The question is whether certain employees are particularly exposed to violence and threats than others. OBJECTIVE: This study examined whether particular employees were especially exposed to work-related violence and threats due to personal characteristics, coping styles, attitudes or participating in violence prevention training. We also examined the role played by supervisors. METHODS: Questionnaire data were collected in 2010 and 2011. In all, 3584 employees from special schools, psychiatric wards, eldercare and the Prison and Probation Service participated. We used multivariate logistic regression analyses. RESULTS: We found persons high on the extroversion and introversion scales were associated with statistical significant increased risk for work-related threats. Furthermore, accepting attitudes concerning work-related violence were also statistical significant associated with increased the risk for both work-related threats and violence. Associations between coping styles and work-related threats and violence were very small and statistically non-significant and we found no effect of violence prevention training. The risk for work-related threats for persons high on the extroversion scale was decreased if supervisor violence prevention behaviour was high. Furthermore, if supervisor prevention behaviour was high, prevention training decreased the risk for work-related violence. However, these associations weren't statistically significant. CONCLUSION: The results stress that effective prevention requires involvement of both employees and supervisors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite the high prevalence of behavioral health disorders in justice settings and prior research on the importance of attitudes in successful treatment outcomes for behavioral health populations, few studies have examined criminal justice professionals' attitudes toward mental illness and substance use. We conducted a state-wide survey of 610 criminal justice professionals using items adapted from the Drug and Drug Problems Perceptions Questionnaire (Albery et al. 2003) to examine attitudes toward mental illness and substance use as a function of criminal justice position and personal contact. For attitudes toward both mental illness and substance use, defense attorneys and community corrections officers reported more positive attitudes relative to jail correctional staff and prosecutors. For attitudes toward substance use, personal contact moderated the effect of position on attitudes. Findings underscore the importance of targeted training and other contact-based interventions to improve criminal justice professionals' attitudes toward behavioral health populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]