Corrections Officer and Staff Safety and Wellness Center

The goal of the Corrections Officer and Staff Safety and Wellness Center (Center) is to partner with the Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) and identify, prioritize, and develop resources to ensure officer and staff safety, wellness, and resilience. The proposed funding of $1,500,000 for the period of October 1, 2022, to September 30, 2025, will allow for the Institute for Intergovernmental Research (IIR) to create the Center and develop targeted trainings and innovative technical assistance at the level of excellence that BJA requires.

The proposal is designed to allow IIR to generate targeted trainings for correctional wellness and safety. Trainings, provided on-site or virtually, will include topics on physical health and wellness, mental health and emotional wellness, and enhancing safety through situational awareness. This proposal also includes the continued growth of the cadre of correctional subject-matter experts who can assist with and support trainings and technical assistance. The Center will also act as a clearinghouse for the most recent research, data, and best practices in the correctional safety and wellness field. Additional deliverables include providing on-demand technical assistance to practitioners in the field and creating individualized training and technical assistance (TTA) plans with BJA, a public-facing website, and online work trackers and training request databases for BJA.

All curricula, tools, and resources will be regularly updated based on relevant research and data. Effective TTA will be developed using the most current, user-friendly technology.

The ultimate intent of the Center is to be the central information repository and resource center for correctional agencies across the nation.