RT Article
T1 “Anything Can Happen at Any Time”: Perceived Causes of Correctional Officer Injuries
JF Criminal justice review
VO 47
IS 1
SP 17
OP 33
A1 Goulette, Natalie
A2 Denney, Andrew S.
A2 Crow, Matthew S.
A2 Ferdik, Frank V.
LA English
YR 2022
UL https://krimdok.uni-tuebingen.de/Record/1786543265
AB 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.
K1 qualitative methods
K1 Pains of imprisonment
K1 Correctional officer injuries
K1 Institutional corrections
DO 10.1177/0734016820952521