Predictors of Violent Victimization Among Correctional Officers in U.S. Prisons and Jails: A Systematic Review

• In Event: Safety and Wellness in Correctional Institutions: Risk Factors and Prevention

Abstract

Prison work is an inherently dangerous job. The supervision of a potentially hostile and violent population can put correctional officers at risk of being exposed to physical and psychological violence. Surprisingly, research into the victimization of correctional officers by incarcerated people has received limited attention. This systematic review attempts to provide a comprehensive overview of the empirical research on assaults against correctional officers in the U.S. correctional system. We searched six major academic databases, including Criminal Justice Abstracts, Google Scholar, PubMed, PsycINFO, and Web of Science. Without limiting this search to a particular time period, we identified 20 empirical studies that investigated predictors of verbal and physical assaults by incarcerated residents against correctional officers in U.S. We observed that most of the studies were published after 2010, and that research predominantly focused on state prisons rather than federal prisons or local jails. These studies rely on data at the incarcerated resident, correctional officer, or facility level. We describe the risk factors of violence and the policy recommendations presented in these studies.

Authors

• Riccardo Ferraresso, Dongguk University

• Bryce E. Peterson, CNA Corporation