NIJ’s Safety, Health, and Wellness Research Portfolio focuses on those individuals employed in criminal justice occupations (e.g., law enforcement officers, correctional officers, medicolegal death investigators, digital forensic examiners), individuals under the supervision of the criminal justice system, and members of the public as they interact with the system. Safety, health, and wellness encompasses both physical safety from hazards and the promotion of good physical and mental health.
Research shows that criminal justice professionals (e.g., law enforcement officers, correctional officers, forensic science professionals) have an increased risk of occupational and organizational stress;[1] chronic disease related to untreated stress, physical inactivity, or obesity;[2] mental health disorders, substance use, or burnout; and suicide.[3] The physical and mental effects of work-related stress and repeated exposure to trauma have been associated with negative effects on decision-making processes and behaviors, which may have a negative impact on public safety.[4] A healthy workforce is imperative for optimal functionality of the criminal justice system. When personnel lack the tools to effectively cope with stressors, they are more likely to experience burnout and decreased job satisfaction and leave the profession. This, in turn, further exacerbates the national shortage of criminal justice professionals.[5]
This portfolio focuses on the intersection of criminal justice and health at the level of individuals who are employed within or who interact with the criminal justice system. It supports the research and development of safety equipment and technology for criminal justice practitioners, the impact of criminal justice work stressors on criminal justice practitioners’ health and well-being, and the evaluation of strategies that promote safety and wellness among individuals under supervision and those who interact with the criminal justice system. Examples of research topics include improving safety equipment such as body armor; developing technologies for safe driving; identifying occupational and organizational stressors (e.g., shift work, exposure to dangerous situations, staffing shortages) that lead to increased physical and mental health risks; reducing stress, trauma, and suicide among criminal justice professionals; reducing morbidity and mortality among those who are under the supervision of the criminal justice system; diversion and deflection programs; and developing strategies to improve safety and wellness outcomes for individuals exposed to violence or the drug epidemic.
NIJ funds rigorous research that collects a mix of qualitative and quantitative data and uses observational, quasi-experimental, randomized controlled trials, and mixed method research designs. Partnerships with agencies, organizations, scientific communities, and individuals closest to the issue help to identify research needs, develop appropriate research designs, and facilitate the translation of findings into actionable solutions. This portfolio is instrumental in evaluating new practices, assessing program effectiveness, and determining the best evidence-based strategies and practices to promote safety, health, and wellness for state, tribal, and local agencies and the communities they serve.
Research Priority 1: Support the research and development of safety equipment and technology for criminal justice practitioners.
| Number | Question |
|---|---|
| Research Question 1.1 | What equipment for criminal justice practitioners is most effective for optimizing functionality and the safe performance of job duties? |
| Research Question 1.2 | What technological innovations improve the safety of criminal justice practitioners? |
| Research Question 1.3 | What practices effectively enhance the safety of law enforcement and correctional officers? |
Research Priority 2: Evaluate various health practices (e.g., stress management, chronic disease reduction through diet and physical activity, sleep, mindfulness, resiliency training) for effectiveness to promote and improve overall health, well-being, and occupational performance among criminal justice practitioners.
| Number | Question |
|---|---|
| Research Question 2.1 | What practices and programs effectively modify organizational culture and leadership styles to promote health and wellness? |
| Research Question 2.2 | What are effective programs and policies to help criminal justice practitioners manage occupational stress and mental health? |
| Research Question 2.3 | How can health and wellness programs promote and maintain physical well-being among law enforcement and correctional officers? |
Priority 3: Improve and support sustained implementation of health and wellness programs that can be tailored to individuals and organizations.
| Number | Question |
|---|---|
| Research Question 3.1 | What are the long-term effects (e.g., health, occupational performance, economic outcomes) of health and wellness programs? |
| Research Question 3.2 | What are the long-term effects of health and wellness programs on officer retention to increase the criminal justice workforce? |
| Research Question 3.3 | What are strategies to adequately prepare criminal justice professionals to maintain optimal health and wellness throughout their career? |
Priority 4: Advance the understanding and evaluate practices and programs that address the health and wellness needs for individuals under supervision.
| Number | Question |
|---|---|
| Research Question 4.1 | What evidence-based strategies and tools improve mental and physical health, mortality, and misconduct outcomes for individuals under supervision? |
| Research Question 4.2 | What are effective treatment options available to incarcerated individuals for addiction and mental illness? |
| Research Question 4.3 | What are the effects of substance abuse and mental health programs on post-release outcomes? |
Priority 5: Develop strategies to enhance the safety, health, and wellness of individuals who interact with the criminal justice system.
| Number | Question |
|---|---|
| Research Question 5.1 | What are effective practices that improve health and wellness support to victims of crime? |
| Research Question 5.2 | What are effective strategies to enhance the safety and well-being of children exposed to the drug epidemic or violence? |
| Research Question 5.3 | What are effective practices to improve safety through diversion/deflection and overdose prevention programs? |
Reports -
- A Study of Trauma and Resiliency Among Forensic Examiners Investigating Child Pornography
- Physiological and Psychological Responses to Critical Incidents Among Correctional Officers
- Atypical Work Hours and Adaptation in Law Enforcement: Targets for Disease Prevention
Datasets -
- Law Enforcement Officers Safety and Wellness: A Multi-Level Study , United States, 2017-2020
- The Impact of Correctional Officer Suicide on the Institutional Environment and on the Well-being of Correctional Employees , Massachusetts, 2010-2019
- Evaluation of Using Telehealth for Opioid Use Disorders in a Correctional Setting , Massachusetts, 2020-2022