Why Corrections Needs Heroes

By: Joel Dvoskin

During my career, I have published articles and helped corrections agencies develop programs to prevent suicide among jail detainees. But I have never been asked to craft a suicide prevention policy for the officers, administrators, and medical staff who work in jails and prisons. I understand why corrections agencies focus on preventing suicide among incarcerated persons (IPs); the Constitution requires it. Sadly, there is no constitutional requirement for preventing suicide among the correctional workforce, even though one study reported a suicide rate among correctional officers of 105 deaths per 100,000 people (more than seven times the rate for the general population.) These preventable deaths are an unspeakable tragedy. We know that active bystandership can help.

Most jurisdictions have employee assistance or wellness programs. Sadly, however, far too few people take advantage of these resources. Studies show that only a tiny percentage of people with depression receive the help they need. When the stress and trauma of our work become too much, depression can rob us of the energy it takes to find help. When fellow staff members see us starting to flounder, we can be heroes by intervening and connecting folks to the care they need.  At Heroes, we believe that every one of us can become an agent of positive change, never more dramatically than when a colleague is in a moment of helpless desperation. Whether the intervention is small or dramatic, we want everyone who works in a facility to feel confident that they can intervene to save a brother or sister’s life, not just with their physical intervention, but with a kind and honest word.