From Military Service to Correctional Work: Examining the Transition of Veterans to Employment in the Canadian Prison System

Building on prior research into the military-to-civilian transition and employment pathways within correctional services, this study examines the experiences of former military personnel employed in the Canadian prison system. While previous research has suggested prison work may be a common career route for Armed Forces leavers, the lived experiences of veterans working as correctional staff remain underexplored. This study provides the first empirical investigation into the career trajectories of former military personnel within Canadian prisons, examining profiles and motivations of veterans to work in the prison system and assessing their transition into prison work. Findings reveal most respondents reporting a relatively smooth transition into correctional employment, although few had explicitly intended a career in prison work. The implications of these trajectories are considered in relation to the broader military-civilian transition, job performance, and the organisational dynamics within Canadian prisons.