Community Resilience Initiative (CRI), the inspiration behind the Paper Tigers documentary, is partnering with the Washington State Department of Corrections (DOC).  For more than a decade, CRI has been providing trauma and resilience training to thousands of organizations across the country.  What caught DOC’s eye, however, is CRI’s adherence to emerging neuroscience, specifically the focus on inclusive interactions.

“Prisons are inherently stressful environments for both incarcerated individuals and staff, and the potential for traumatic experiences is high”, says Lisa Flynn, Director of Correctional Services with Washington State Department of Corrections. “One of our core values is centered around respectful and inclusive interactions. Visitation staff, in particular, are tasked with facilitating interactions between individuals and their loved ones, which can be emotionally challenging. It is crucial that these staff members receive trauma-informed training to ensure they can effectively support both themselves and the people they interact with”, explains Flynn.

According to CRI Executive Director, Rick Griffin, the partnership between CRI and DOC just makes sense. CRI offers a series of trainings that help professionals recognize and respond to the impact of traumatic experiences on an individual’s mental, physical, and emotional well-being. This approach is especially important in prisons, where many incarcerated individuals have experienced trauma prior to or during their incarceration.

However, it is not only the incarcerated individuals who may have experienced trauma. “Our staff may also have experienced trauma in their personal lives or as a result of their work in the prison environment,” says Dawn Taylor, Corrections Manager of the Correctional Service Unit. “Trauma-informed training helps us better meet the needs of incarcerated individuals and staff,” adds Taylor.

The DOC team recognized that staff who have not received trauma-informed training may unintentionally re-traumatize individuals and exacerbate their existing trauma symptoms. For example, staff members who raise their voice or use aggressive language may trigger memories of past abuse for an individual, leading to a physical or emotional response that can be challenging for both parties.  Additionally, the emotional demands of the job can take a toll on staff. They may be exposed to disturbing stories and emotions from individuals and their loved ones, leading to vicarious trauma. Without proper training, staff may not know how to identify and address their own trauma symptoms, which can lead to burnout, compassion fatigue, and increased turnover rates.

The training from CRI helps staff understand the impact of trauma on individuals and how to respond with sensitivity and empathy. They can learn techniques to de-escalate potentially volatile situations and to communicate effectively with individuals who may have difficulty expressing themselves. They can also learn strategies to manage their own emotions and reactions to difficult situations.

By providing staff with the tools and skills they need to respond to trauma effectively, prisons can create a safer and more supportive environment for everyone involved.