System-wide changes have been slow, which is not necessarily surprising for those of us in this line of work. So, my suggestion is that we redirect our attention from changing the system to changing the thoughts, behaviors, and actions of those who work within the walls of our nation’s correctional facilities. In the words of Tom Ziglar, “Change begins with you, but it doesn’t start until you do.” If we begin by changing our outlook it will inevitably change our attitude. Like negativity, positivity also can be infectious, but it must start with you, your thoughts, your behaviors, and most importantly, your actions.

In November of last year, I suffered a cardiac event while at work. In retrospect, I had been feeling ill for weeks but ignored the signs because most of us who work in this profession, myself included, often think that we are invincible because we work in a profession where mental and physical toughness are rewarded and mental and physical weakness are unwelcomed. Thankfully, I was given a second chance to change how I react and respond to stress, and to prioritize my physical and mental health. As a 58-year-old, most would describe me as being physically fit, but that is on the exterior. Inside, my body was rebelling and also sending me signals/warning signs that I need to take better care of myself.

According to Pittaro (2020), correctional employees experience higher rates of stress-related illnesses that contribute to low levels of job satisfaction, which has been linked to burnout and is thought to lead to compassion fatigue. The research on compassion fatigue and correctional officers has been scant, which is why it warrants further attention. As corrections professionals (officers and staff alike), stress and burnout levels are inevitably heightened, especially since we find ourselves working in an environment that most would describe as toxic.

What is Compassion Fatigue?

Brown (2021) defines compassion fatigue as a general term applied to anyone who suffers as a result of serving in a helping capacity. When used in this context, compassion fatigue can be seen in all public safety professions, including among our first responders.

Jail detection and correctional officers, unlike some first responders, experience trauma directly but also indirectly through the retelling of traumatic events by incarcerated individuals. We know that a noteworthy percentage of criminal offenders have experienced some form of trauma, particularly during childhood and adolescence, which has likely contributed to their criminality in some fashion. Working with criminal offenders with traumatic histories places jail officers and other jail employees at an increased risk of compassion fatigue.

Over time, jail officers can become desensitized to the plight of those under their care and this lack of empathy can contribute to the initial onset of compassion fatigue. Similar to burnout, compassion fatigue mimics many of the same symptoms such as isolating from others, overeating, excessive drinking, drug use, and other harmful coping measures.