“Anything Can Happen at Any Time”: Perceived Causes of Correctional Officer Injuries

Prior research finds that correctional officers (COs) often report high levels of stress, poor mental and physical health and are at an increased risk of suffering work-related injuries. However, little is known about the causes of such injuries. In an attempt to fill this large gap in the literatur...

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Bibliographic Details
Authors: Goulette, Natalie (Author) ; Denney, Andrew S. (Author) ; Crow, Matthew S. (Author) ; Ferdik, Frank V. (Author)
Format: Electronic Article
Language:English
Published: 2022
In: Criminal justice review
Year: 2022, Volume: 47, Issue: 1, Pages: 17-33
Online Access: Volltext (lizenzpflichtig)
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Keywords:
qualitative methods
Pains of imprisonment
Correctional officer injuries
Institutional corrections
Description
Summary:Prior research finds that correctional officers (COs) often report high levels of stress, poor mental and physical health and are at an increased risk of suffering work-related injuries. However, little is known about the causes of such injuries. In an attempt to fill this large gap in the literature, the current study used qualitative data to explore the perceived causes of work-related injuries according to COs and their executive staff. Officers identified the reasons for injuries as either within their control or outside of their control. Injuries resulting from factors within CO’s control were perceived to be related to complacency and corruption. Injuries stemming from circumstances outside of CO’s control were perceived to be related to the nature of the job, the mental health of inmates, minor events escalating, and what are known as inmate “check-ins.” In consideration of these findings, policy implications and directions for future research are also reviewed.
ISSN:1556-3839
DOI:10.1177/0734016820952521