Criminal Justice

There three issues arising from this scenario includes the work safety, occupational health and work –family conflict. These issues represent the stressors that affect the wellbeing and the performance of the correctional officers while carrying out their duties in the correctional facilities’ working environment. Work safety issue is indicated by the correctional officer being alone in a cell block during the shift change which exposes them to assault from the inmates.  Working in prison as a correctional officer means that one has to get involved in mendaciousness, confrontation and use of force (Brough, Brown & Biggs, 2015).  The officers face the challenge of being confronted physically by the inmates while trying to keep order inside the cells. Hence, the threat of injury from violent confrontation from inmates while supervising them is a serious safety issue. For instance, the correctional officers experience the highest number of non-fatal violent cases as compared to other professions apart from the police officers. Therefore, an officer being alone in a cell block exposes them to high risk of harm from violent inmates.

The other issues relates to the officer occupational health arising from the various stressors which are linked to the inherent nature o this profession. The officers have to work in a closed environment that also secured which limits the freedom of movement and the officers do not have exposure to natural lighting or outdoors. In addition, the job’s physicality involves carrying equipments and having to walk or stand for long periods places a lot of stress to the officers, the results of which are chronic, knee and back injuries. This can be associated with the officer at the cell block feeling weary for working overtime during the week. Working for long-hours while standing or walking can be draining to the officers since they may b forced to work over-time without having to break even for lunch at times. Another stress factor involves not being able to know when a crisis may arise which brings about permanent hyper-vigilance. The officers may find themselves in places where they have control and yet have not control (Brower, 2013). The occupational health issue can be very overwhelming to an individual and can finally lead to fatigue and lack of motivation for the job. The other issue relates to the lack of work –life balance which leads to work-family conflict (Brower, 2013). A major work-home issue that correctional officers experience involves the demands from work that can have a negative impact on their home. The result is an incompatibility between the roles of the officer and home and at work (Brough, Brown & Biggs, 2015). The officer has to remain awake to take care of an ill child at home while he or she is expected to deliver at workplace resulting to this conflict.

Various strategies can be used to deal with these issues which comprises of implementing of programs aimed at ensuring officers wellness. To take care of the work-safety issues, the program should aim at ensuring there is enough support for officers during the changes of shift to avoid any assault by hostile inmates. For the purpose of occupational health issues, the program should ensure there is an open communication line that is professionally driven with superiors about the strains the officers are undergoing and how to offer relieve. To achieve a healthy work-life balance, the officers should be allowed enough time to reach out to families and professionals and to rest (Brower, 2013).

Reference

Brough, P., Brown, J., Biggs, A. (2015).Improving Criminal Justice Workplaces: Translating Theory and Research Into Evidence-based Practice. Routledge. 160

Brower, J. (2013).Correctional Officer Wellness and Safety Literature Review. Retrieved from: https://www.ojpdiagnosticcenter.org/sites/default/files/spotlight/download/NDC_CorrectionalOfficerWellnessSafety_LitReview.pdf