A Day in The Life of a Correctional Officer

Correctional officers are individuals who work closest to inmates and witness the conditions inside the prisons first-hand. Their jobs require them to maintain a safe environment inside the facilities through means of care, custody, and control; however, this is easier said than done. This raises the question: how satisfied are correctional officers with their occupation, and how does compassion fatigue affect their everyday lives? Using a mix-methods approach, I conducted three interviews with correctional officers to gain valuable first-hand insight. Eight additional interviews with correctional officers originally conducted by Dr. Amy Klassen, a faculty member at the University of Toronto Mississauga, were also analyzed as part of my study. Furthermore, I collected archival data to examine the history of the occupation and how it has evolved over time.

The Canadian prison system has experienced an increase in its prison population since it has become more punitive in its approach to crime. The justice system, however, has improved in attributing sentences that adequately fit the crimes that are committed. Correctional facilities have an increasingly disproportionate number of correctional officers to inmate ratio. A correctional officer mentioned that the facility at which he works “holds about 1000 inmates [at all times, which can go] up to [as high as] 3000.” Within this facility, there are 100 correctional officers for up to 3000 inmates due to a staff shortage.

Similarly, another correctional officer expressed concern with the overpopulated prison because he feels this makes it difficult to run the facility efficiently. He explains that the government has built jails where we are basically warehousing people; rehabilitating offenders is not possible within this system. The way inmates are cared for within these facilities places more pressure on correctional officers to keep a large number of offenders disciplined and out of trouble.

The policies associated with the declining power and influence of correctional officers have become more stress-inducing. Correctional officers have indicated that these changes have had a negative impact on their occupational environment. Since inmates outnumber officers, the power dynamics have shifted, making it difficult for officers to provide an adequate level of care and protection. A correctional officer interviewed for this study who has about 35 years of experience mentioned that “when [he] first started [the job] was more militant, when [his] supervisor came on to the [prison] unit…the inmates automatically knew they had to stand up by themselves, while [the supervisor] does his patrol and tour, and checks around[…] Today, I’d be lucky if I could get one inmate to stand up by his cell […]; they just won’t because they know they don’t have to.”

Correctional officers have expressed their dismay towards the new surveillance system being enforced throughout prisons. One correctional officer describes how the new cameras work in the prisons, he states that they only catch the actions of the correctional officers and inmates but don’t provide any audio recording. This is a significant flaw in surveillance because the interactions between the correctional officers and inmates can’t be heard which can lead to several misunderstandings when correctional officers are put under investigation.  According to the officers I interviewed, inmates can get away with much more, which poses a risk for both sides.

Another issue stems from the poor officer-to-inmate ratio. Since correctional officers are required to provide care and protection, they are held accountable for everything that happens within the prison walls. An officer stated that whether an inmate commits suicide, gets assaulted, or even murdered, the public places the blame on the correctional officers. Correctional officers feel more stressed while on the job because the public holds them responsible for circumstances that are out of their control. As the prisons become more crowded, more young gang members are entering as well, which poses a risk since prisons can house gang rivals. Upon entry, these men try to bring in gang-related activities into the prisons and uphold their rivalries, which creates tension for everyone involved. One of the correctional officers explains that “if you tell me you’re the Blood and you don’t like the Crips then I’ll keep you away from anybody that’s a known Crip.” This means that correctional officers are placed in between gang rivals for their protection, which puts their lives in danger. More importantly, however, correctional officers talk about how the limited requirements for hiring have made the job enticing to gang members attempting to get hired as correctional officers to help members who are prisoners.

To make matters more stressful, correctional officers feel as though that the prison administration consists of members who are well-educated but who are not aware of how prison dynamics work on the inside. The administration attempts to implement policies that are not only ineffective but also create a prison environment that is harder for correctional officers to handle. One correctional officer explains how the administration thought it was a good idea to hold a colouring contest for inmates that are grown men; in turn, these inmates felt humiliated and cursed at the management. Correctional officers claim that they are often up against inmates and the administration, hence having to face stress coming from several sources.

The stress from working in prison makes its way into the private lives of these officers. It’s difficult to “code-switch” between the roles played at work and in family life, as one correctional officer explained. Officers expressed how it was difficult for them to spend and enjoy time with their family members. While the job is well-paid, some officers stated that it is not worth the time lost with family members. The strain can lead to various mental health issues and substance abuse problems among correctional officers; however, there is a lack of support available to deal with these seemingly personal troubles. With the stress that comes from this line of work, there should be WSIB coverage or coverage under OHIP to receive the counselling or therapy. Many officers require treatment for PTSD because of the harsh work environments. The Canadian Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) has already established programs to help out inmates, but there should be problems targeted at helping correctional officers who are also in need of help.

Mehakpreet Mahey is currently pursuing a Bachelor’s degree at the University of Toronto Mississauga with a double major in Psychology and Criminology. She hopes her research will bring awareness to the stress levels associated with different occupations.