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Abstract: 

This article presents key findings from a study of the occupational experiences of parole officers working in both community and institutional settings in Canada’s federal correctional system. Unpacking data collected through 150 interviews with Canadian federal parole officers, it discusses organizational stressors related to the type, frequency, or quantity of job tasks or arising from feelings of lack of organizational support or respect and operational stressors emerging from interaction with clients or their families/friends/acquaintances or from vicarious exposure to potentially psychologically traumatic materials. The authors argue that parole officers understand that building relationships with individual parolees/prisoners is crucial to their work duties but find that overlapping occupational stressors limit their ability to provide dedicated support and careful supervision to those on their caseloads to the degree they desire. It offers recommendations for policy and practices, with implications both for officers’ well-being as well as for public safety.

Keywords: Canadian parole officers, organizational stressors, operational stressors, policies and practices, officers’ well-being

Affiliations:  1: McMaster University; 2: University of Guelph; 3: Memorial University of Newfoundland.