Do Something: Does the Use of Compassionate Empathy by Staff Affect the Safety of a Colorado Correctional Facility?

The purpose of this applied multimethod study is to explore the relationship between the use of compassionate empathy and safety in a Colorado correctional facility. This research involved 25 staff members and employed a thematic analysis approach, integrating results from the Toronto Empathy questionnaire and semi-structured participant interviews. The study aimed to provide insights into the potential impact of compassionate empathy on safety within correctional facilities and inform policy and training initiatives to enhance overall safety. The findings offer valuable information to correctional administrators and policymakers in Colorado and beyond, aiding efforts to improve the safety and well-being of both staff and incarcerated residents within correctional facilities. Furthermore, this research may contribute to the broader field of criminal justice by emphasizing the role of compassionate empathy in shaping organizational culture, training material, and safety outcomes within correctional facilities, should a relationship between compassionate empathy and safety be established.