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Wellness Principles

Principles for Building a Best-in-Class Correctional Staff Wellness Program

The wellness crisis in corrections is at an epidemic level. Without initiatives that are evidence-based, shaped by employee feedback, and regularly evaluated, staffing shortages, burnout, and low retention among corrections officers and other frontline professionals will persist.

To address this, One Voice United created Principles for Building a Best-in-Class Correctional Staff Wellness Program– a living set of actionable, evidence-informed guidelines developed through a three-year effort involving thousands of corrections professionals, clinicians, and wellness experts.

Guided by our National Wellness Advisory Council (NWAC), these principles are regularly reviewed, updated with the latest research, and shaped by ongoing feedback from the field to ensure they remain relevant, effective, and impactful.

How to Use This Document

Every individual, department or facility is at a different point in their wellness journey. This guide is designed to meet you where you are and support your next steps. Here are a few ways you might put it to use:

  • Collaborate with your department to design or strengthen a wellness program.
  • Engage with state legislatures to raise awareness and advocate for funding and policy support.
  • Evaluate wellness internally by assessing the needs of your membership, staff, or department.
  • Use it as a personal resource—whether you’re a corrections professional seeking tools, strategies, or inspiration for your own well-being.