Job Stress Experienced by Correctional Officers in Hawai‘i Related to Working in a Carceral Space

Abstract

The problem of poor psychological and physical health and wellness among correctional officers (COs) is not new, but it is getting more attention. Extant literature suggests that one of the greatest threats to CO wellness is job stress (Brower, 2013; Huckabee, 1992). A United States Department of Justice Programs Diagnostic Center Study found that COs have: (1) a higher rate of suicide than those in other occupations; (2) experience some level of post-traumatic stress disorder, and; (3) on average, will not live past 59 years of age (Brower, 2013). This research: (a) investigated job stress experienced by COs in Hawai‘i working in Carceral Space and (b) informed the need for evidence-based prevention programming to prevent and treat job stress experienced by COs in the system of corrections in Hawai‘i. It was found that: (i) COs experienced their work environment as a site of liminality; (ii) COs interpersonal relationships suffered as a result of their job stress; (iii) COs experienced declining health and well-being, which they attributed to their job stress; (iv) COs wanted access to resources/support to help ameliorate their job stress; and (v) COs placed importance on their sense of support within their work environment for dealing with their job stress. The implications of this research suggest that the negative impacts of poor CO wellness cast a long shadow, impacting prisoners, co-workers, families, the entire correctional setting, and the communities in which COs live. It is suggested that individual and system-level research be conducted within correctional facilities to ensure that these institutions are running well and can help safeguard all health and safety.