A Phenomenological Study of Stress Among Ex-Correctional Officers in Georgia
Maya Rookard McPherson, Komanduri S Murty, Anita McMurtry
This phenomenological study examined the perceived work-related stress among ex-correctional
officers in the state correctional facility in Georgia. Using the purposive sample of 12 correctional
officers in Georgia, the study delineated five themes from the responses of the study subjects: (1) work
stress theme; (2) working with male inmates theme; (3) emotional dissonance theme; (4) cause and
effect health and stress theme; and (5) stress relief theme. The main triggers of work-related stress were
found to be associated with (a) leadership changes, (b) inmate behavior and manipulation, and (c) job
responsibilities, hours worked, mandatory overtime, impromptu shifts, etc. The study also examined
how the stress experienced by the study subjects may have impacted them in their post- employment.
While many of these findings are consistent with earlier research, the strength of this study lies in the
responses of former correctional officers, who were free to express their views candidly without fear
of retaliation or retribution, unlike those in service and actively employed in the field. Hence their
responses should be taken seriously into account in order to increase the effectiveness of the performance
of correctional officers by addressing the issues and problems identified herein. Unless their message is
heeded and acted upon, correctional officers’ stress levels and turnover rate are likely to remain high and
their retention is likely to be low.
