Studies have been done regarding the life expectancy of a correctional officer, and the numbers are staggering, 58 and 59 years of age. For our jail, using the statistics from the last 10 years, our jail correctional officer’s life expectancy is 61. This is 16 years below the national average.
Why is this life expectancy so low? The suicide rate of correctional officers is seven times the national average. One of our officers committed suicide at the age of 27.
Part of the reason is the exorbitant amount of forced overtime of officers working 70-80 hours a week being separated from their families.
Another reason is that correctional officers at our jail do not feel valued and respected. In a job satisfaction survey I administered, 59.2% of officers strongly disagree with the statement and 31.6 disagree with the statement that “I feel valued and respected as a CO at the Allegheny County Jail.”
What can be done? Our new county executive can create more incentives for officers to be hired and continue employment. Jail administration can change and use a corrective model instead of a punitive model, a model of engagement of the jail culture and can support the Jail Oversight Board to conduct exit interviews.
The public can change stereotypes and recognize that many officers act in a professional manner and are very dedicated to the premise of protecting other staff and residents and helping residents of the jail succeed.
John Kenstowicz
Morningside
The writer works as an advocate to improve living and working conditions at the Allegheny County Jail.