An investigation of job-related factors impacting the stress level and burnout amongst Case Management Officer in the Namibia
The correctional environment is documented to be inherently stressful, inducing various magnitudes of distress amongst its inhabitants. This phenomenon has been found to extend to correctional officers, who have been reported to experience significant levels of stress, disproportionate to the general public, arising from their job functions, working conditions, and organizational culture (Schwartz, et al., 2023). Consequently, scholars have dedicated considerable efforts to measure the level of stress and burnout among correctional officers and identify the contributing factors thereof (Weston et al 2023).

 

Nevertheless, past research has predominantly focused on custodial officers (Cassiano & Ricciardelli, 2023; Hendrix, 2023, & Laureano-Morales et al., 2024). Therefore, limited studies examined stress and burnout amongst non-custodial correctional officers, responsible to deliver specialized rehabilitation interventions. This deficiency in research is exceptionally evident in the African context. As a result of the relatively small number of CMOs in the Namibian Correctional Service, the study will utilize the entire CMO population. The study will address these research questions by employing self-administered questionnaires.  The findings of the study will contribute to novel insights on factors contributing to stress and burnout amongst CMOs in Namibia. These insights are pivotal for the development of interventions and programs aimed to address stress and burnout in the Namibian Correctional Service. In addition, the findings will be vital to advocate for policies focused on preventing and managing stress and burnout in the correctional environment.