Speakers
Parallel Workshops
Correctional professionals face deep emotional and ethical challenges in their work. This session presents findings from a mixed-method study examining moral distress and trauma-informed organizational practices among 77 Canadian correctional agents. Participants completed a survey and shared candid reflections on how their institutions address traumatic stress. We explored whether staT from equity-deserving groups—such as racialized, Indigenous, and LGBTQI+ professionals—experience higher levels of distress. The findings revealed a troubling pattern: the longer agents stayed in the role, the more distress they reported, with those from marginalized groups potentially at greater risk. Strikingly, trauma-informed organizational practices were associated with reduced moral distress—a promising and novel finding. Drawing on both statistical trends and powerful qualitative insights, this session will illuminate the human cost of working in carceral environments and emphasize the urgent need for systemic strategies that promote equity, wellbeing, and resilience. Join us for a compelling conversation on how institutions can better support those who serve within them.