This publication presentations about research into correctional officer stress at the 2023 National Institute of Justice’s (NIJ’s) National Research Conference.
This article summarizes key insights from those presentations at the 2023 National Institute of Justice’s (NIJ’s) National Research Conference, the theme of which was “Evidence to Action.” The conference featured plenary sessions on overarching issues for the field as well as expert panels detailing vital new research findings. Presentations focused on the prevalence of stress and trauma among correctional officers. Prolonged stress can cause burnout, characterized by symptoms of emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, and a sense of low personal accomplishment. Mindfulness training is one promising solution to these stress related outcomes. The 2023 NIJ National Research Conference’s expert presentations on correction officer stress, and mindfulness training as one approach to relieving that stress, reflect the commitment of the NIJ to research initiatives supporting our nation’s correctional institutions and those who work and reside there. The event proved to be a magnet for researchers and justice agency professionals who rely on scientific advances to shape effective policy and practice solutions to crime.