In correctional services in Canada, samples across studies suggest upwards of 25% of correctional officers have former armed forces experience. The movement from military to public safety more generally is common in Canada, but research on the transition to publica safety at/in prison is understudied - with a small emerging literature out of the United Kingdom and now Canada. I draw on data from multiple studies, one being a survey of correctional workers in either federal correctional services or select provincial services. A second being a longitudinal study or correctional officers with military experience under the employ of Correctional Services Canada, where we collected interview, survey and MINI assessments to learn about their experience of the transition to civilian within the institution of prison. Given the complexity of prison society for those working and living, I start by showing how veteran versus non-veteran officers feel military experience prepared them for all elements of the job (i.e., security, custody, care, control, report writing). Then I talk about how military experience is thought to affect promotional opportunities at work. In addition, I remind of the dynamic of veteran prisoner versus veteran correctional officer when on the same unit or same prison, each time unique and requiring navigation. Considerations for health - are discussed.
Dr. Rosemary Ricciardelli is Professor (PhD) and Research Chair in Safety, Security, and Wellness, at Memorial University of Newfoundland. The winner of the 2023 International Corrections and Prison Association's Research Excellence Award, the 2023 Canadian Sociological Association's Angus Reid Applied Researcher Award, and the 2024 International Community Justice Association's President's Award, Ricciardelli was also elected to the Royal Society of Canada and is a fellow of the Canadian Academy of Health Sciences. Her research centers on evolving understandings of health, gender, and vulnerabilities within different facets of the public safety systems. Her interests lay in the social health, identity construction, and lived experiences of individuals. She leads a longitudinal study on the mental health and well-being experiences of correctional officers employed by Correctional Services Canada.
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