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but in others, and to reach out for assistance to people that they feel they can confide in.

The officers and other staff feel heard and respected with the presence of the unit and all of the available support tools, and in turn are in the best possible condition to fulfill their duties. Moving forward The unit is still in its early years, but so far it has proven to be an effective and proactive model for staff wellbeing. Investing in staff wellness has shown to improve the general atmosphere of the jail, as employees and for inmates. The officers and other staff feel heard and respected with the presence of the unit and all of the available support tools, and in turn are in the best possible condition to fulfill their duties. The Employee Support Unit has had significant strides in closing the gap between employees in need of mental health treatment and those who follow through to get the help needed. Since its be- ginning in 2016, PGDOC has had eight actively suicidal staff members who were able to get connected with men- tal health services as quickly as possible, with Persaud assisting in the coordination of care with mental health providers and with command staff. Those who have reached out for help return to work more quickly and in more stable health. PGDOC’s all-encompassing approach to staff wellbeing actively works and succeeds in creating trust and understanding between mental health profes- sionals and correctional staff, as well as their families, and results in an empowered staff that are able to meet their own mental and physical health needs.

corrections fatigue, stress management, conflict resolution and domestic violence, all work to educate employees about the impact of chronic stress on the job and empha- size the importance of self-care. Persaud also meets with the entire class of new officers individually at specific intervals throughout their first two years on the job to ensure a smooth transition and to help identify any emer- gent areas of needed support. The unit’s holistic approach to wellness also includes engaging spouses and family members of staff, hosting family tours specifically to give family members an opportunity to see the inner work- ings of the jail and to help educate them on the signs and symptoms of traumatic stress. Having these tools avail- able not only to staff, but to those who are around them in their personal life, further strengthens the proactive approach the unit aims for. Since the unit started giving family tours, they have been able to make direct con- nections with spouses and family members, and that has resulted in four reports coming directly from family mem- bers to alert the unit that an officer was in mental distress. Knowledge of the signs of mental stress has also allowed command staff to refer individuals for consultation when symptoms are shown. The level of trust that staff have with the Employee Support Unit is truly shown here, in their willingness to not only see the signs in themselves, Photo courtesy Ellis Williams The Prince George’s County Department of Corrections held its first family tour of the year on March 16, 2019. The attendees posed for a picture after going on a tour of the facility and gaining an understanding of their loved ones’ work environments.

Robert Breckenridge II is an assistant editor at the American Correctional Association.

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