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

• Author: Andrew S. Denney,Frank V. Ferdik,Matthew S. Crow,Natalie Goulette
• DOI: 10.1177/0734016820952521
• Date: 01 March 2022
• Published date: 01 March 2022
• Subject Matter: Articles

Article

“Anything Can Happen at

Any Time”: Perceived Causes

of Correctional

Officer Injuries

Natalie Goulette

1

, Andrew S. Denney

2

, Matthew S. Crow

1

, and

Frank V. Ferdik

3

Abstract

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.

Keywords

institutional corrections, correctional officer injuries, pains of imprisonment, qualitative methods

The most recent estimates suggest that there are approximately 500,000 correctional officers (COs)

throughout the United States (Konda et al., 2013). Correctional scholars recognize that these indi-

viduals may “represent the single most important resource available to any correctional agency”

(Archambeault & Archambeault, 1982, p. 72). COs supervise nearly 2 million inmates (Konda et al.,

2013) and have many diverse responsibilities within institutions (Bazemore & Dicker, 1994; Craw-

ley, 2004; Kauffmann, 1989; Moon & Maxwell, 2004). They perform these duties in dynamic, often

unpredictable environments that involve potentially violent individuals such as gang members

1

University of West Florida, Pensacola, FL, USA

2

Loyola University New Orleans, New Orleans, LA, USA

3

Austin Peay State University, Clarksville, TN, USA

Corresponding Author:

Natalie Goulette, Department of Criminology and Criminal Justice, University of West Florida, 11000 University Parkway,

Bldg. 85, Rm. 153, Pensacola, FL 32514, USA.

Email: ngoulette@uwf.edu

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DOI: 10.1177/0734016820952521

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2022, Vol. 47(1) 17–33

(Lombardo, 1989), those with mental illness (Kupers, 1999; Turner, 1975), or even terrorists

(Crawley, 2004). This interaction with inmates, combined with working long hours, can predispose

COs to an increased risk of work-related injuries (Brower, 2013; Stack & Tsoudis, 1997) similar to

that of police officers or security guards (Harrell, 2011).

Work-related injuries can have a profound impact on COs and their families, coworkers, and their

facilities. Injuries can impede officers’ regulation of inmate conduct, contribute to officer turnover

and absenteeism, produce higher inmate-to-officer ratios, create budgetary problems for adminis-

trative officials, and reduce security levels across entire institutions (Brower, 2013; Dowden &

Tellier, 2004; Lambert et al., 2005). COs even face the risk of suffering work-related fatalities,

with 113 COs losing their lives while on the job between 1999 and 2008 (Konda et al., 2013).

Given the potential impact of injuries to COs and the limited research in this area, the current

study sought to develop a rich, detailed account of the causes of CO work-related injuries by directly

examining the perspectives of COs and executive staff. Current COs and their supervisors are in a

position to provide important insight into the factors that lead to injuries on the job. Their perspec-

tives can help inform future policy and practice in an effort to reduce injuries and limit additional

negative consequences associated with CO injury. The current study utilized in-depth interviews

with COs and their supervisors in an effort to address the following research question: What do COs

and their supervisors perceive as the causes of work-related injuries to COs? Policy implications and

future directions for research are also discussed.

Literature Review

Scholars have long had an interest in examining COs’ well-being (Brower, 2013; Cullen et al., 1985;

Ferdik et al., 2013; Finn, 1998, 2000; Halbesleben, 2006; Lambert et al., 2005; McCraty et al., 2003;

Whitehead & Lindquist, 1989). Much of this research has focused on the mental toll correctional

work can have on officers. In particular, a sizable body of prior research focused on CO stress has

concluded that officers report high levels of stress as a result of working in a dangerous environment

(Finney et al., 2013; Fitzgerald, 2010; Garcia, 2008; Hessl, 2001; Leip & Stinchcomb, 2013; Paoline

et al., 2006; Patterson, 1992). In addition, COs often struggle with role conflict (Lambert et al.,

2005), demanding work obligations (Brower, 2013), poor leadership, and a lack of resources nec-

essary to complete their job responsibilities (Armstrong & Griffin, 2004; Botha & Pienaar, 2006;

Dowden & Tellier, 2004; T. Morse et al., 2011). Furthermore, COs have reported elevated levels of

anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), which can impact officers’ physical

health and job performance (Spinaris et al., 2012). Spinaris et al. (2012) found that 27%of their

national sample of 3,599 COs reported symptoms of PTSD, which surpassed the overall rate

reported by combat veterans (14%). Denhof and Spinaris (2016) found similarly elevated levels

of PTSD and depression among COs in Michigan. The high prevalence of PTSD, stress, depression,

and anxiety highlights one aspect of the risk associated with the occupation, but other risks may also

pose threats to CO safety and well-being.

Mental health issues experienced by COs have been linked to impaired memory, heart disease, obesity,

sleeping troubles, and digestive problems (Spinaris et al., 2012). COs who reported physical and mental

health symptoms missed significantly more workdays and reported using both alcohol and tobacco more

frequently as coping mechanisms (Spinaris et al., 2012). Poor physical and mental health for COs have

been tied to officer burnout, turnover (Ferdik & Smith, 2017; Lambert et al., 2005; Patenaude, 2001), and

decreased job performance (Paoline et al., 2006). These issues can lead to higher inmate-to-officer ratios,

which can pose a greater risk to COs, staff, and inmates (Steward & Brown, 2001).

COs are at an increased risk of injuryon the job similar to that experienced by other serviceworkers

including law enforcement officers, firefighters, and military personnel. In 2014, COs experienced

substantiallyhigher rates of injurieson the job (53.5 per 10,000full-time equivalents [FTEs])compared

18 Criminal Justice Review 47(1)