Lucas Alward, assistant professor of criminal justice, and several co-authors recently published a study titled “A longitudinal qualitative analysis of probation and parole officer stress and burnout during the COVID-19 pandemic.”
The study was led by recent criminal justice master’s graduate Makayla Butler, now an Educational Resource Coordinator at the Washington State Department of Corrections, and co-authored by Ashley Lockwood (Georgia Southern University) and Jill Viglione (University of Central Florida), who received a National Science Foundation grant that supported the research.
Using data from interviews with probation and parole officers, the study examined changes in work stress and burnout across three phases of the COVID-19 pandemic. Early on, most officers reported low stress and burnout, citing operational shifts like reduced caseloads. Over time, reported stress increased due to inconsistent agency communication, limited resources and inadequate client services. However, agencies that provided technological tools and organizational support helped mitigate officers’ reported stress and burnout.
The researchers’ findings highlight strategies for community corrections agencies to clarify goals, improve communication and strengthen officer wellbeing.