Inside and Out: Examining the Individual, Environmental, and Organizational Predictors of Personal and Professional Wellness Among Prison Staff

Correctional staff face workplace stressors that can have significant and enduring impacts on their mental, physical, and professional well-being. Using staff survey data from five Minnesota prisons ( n = 585), we explore differences in professional and personal wellness among correctional officers and non-security employees. Data were self-reported and represent a 29.2% response rate. We examined how key individual characteristics, work environment, and organizational factors predict several wellness outcomes, including health indicators, burnout, life outlook, job satisfaction, and perceptions of safety. Although results were mixed across outcomes, we found that female, non-white, older, and more educated employees had higher levels of some wellness indicators. Greater staffing levels and lower rates of misconduct also made employees feel safer. Notably, having positive perceptions of the organization’s policies and practices was the strongest predictor across models. Results highlight key stressors and how different staff groups experience the demands of working in correctional settings.