Centering Wellness in Community Supervision: Peer Support and Other Effective Programs

Correctional staff – people who work in community supervision, jails, prisons, and other justice system agencies – face unique stressors, including potential exposure to violence and trauma. These stressors can result in dissatisfaction with work, impact the personal lives of staff and their families, and lead to poor health outcomes. Because of this, corrections agencies across the country are examining strategies to improve staff wellness, reduce turnover, and improve agency culture.

CSRC reviewed the history of staff wellness programs in criminal justice agencies, including available research on their effectiveness. This webinar focused on peer support programs, which pair staff members struggling with personal or professional stress with a colleague trained to provide support. Attendees learned about the benefits to individual staff and the entire agency, including an increased sense of community and removing the workplace stigma around asking for help. Attendees also learned basic skills that peer supporters need to communicate effectively with colleagues, as well as steps to bring staff wellness support to community supervision agencies and evaluate selected programs.

Thank you to our faculty:

Award# 15PBJA-22-GK-01739-MUMU, is sponsored by the Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) and administered by the Center for Effective Public Policy (CEPP), in partnership with the American Probation and Parole Association (APPA), the Association of Paroling Authorities, International (APAI), the Center for Justice Innovation (CJI), and the National Association of Pretrial Services Agencies (NAPSA).