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Staff Victimization During Jail Crises

NCJ Number
156935
Journal
Jail Operations Bulletin Volume: 6 Issue: 8 Dated: (1995) Pages: complete issue
Author(s)
S M Anderson
Date Published
1995
Length
6 pages
Annotation
This bulletin is designed to teach jail officers what to expect during and after a traumatic jail crisis and how to recover from inmate victimization.
Abstract
Staff victimization encompasses events that are unexpected, difficult to cope with, impossible to prevent or control, potentially life-threatening, and extremely stressful. Correctional officers work with high levels of daily stress and, as a result, are likely to have strong physical and emotional reactions to traumatic events. Emotional reactions following a traumatic incident may include symptoms of post-traumatic stress syndrome; in addition, traumatized officers must go through a natural grieving and reconstruction period. The article also describes how jail officers can help a colleague who has just suffered some type of victimization.