How prison staffing shortages are driving away mental health staff

Consider This from NPR

Correctional officers are leaving their jobs at federal prisons. 

And when these prisons are understaffed – psychologists and other staff are asked to act as guards. 

Recent reporting from The Marshall Project says it’s pushing mental health professionals out of prisons. 




For sponsor-free episodes of Consider This, sign up for Consider This+ via Apple Podcasts or at plus.npr.org. Email us at considerthis@npr.org.

This episode was produced by Jason Fuller and Karen Zamora, with audio engineering by Ted Mebane.

It was edited by Jeanette Woods and Courtney Dorning.

Our executive producer is Sami Yenigun.

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Correctional officers are leaving their jobs at federal prisons. 

And when these prisons are understaffed – psychologists and other staff are asked to act as guards. 

Recent reporting from The Marshall Project says it’s pushing mental health professionals out of prisons. 




For sponsor-free episodes of Consider This, sign up for Consider This+ via Apple Podcasts or at plus.npr.org. Email us at considerthis@npr.org.

This episode was produced by Jason Fuller and Karen Zamora, with audio engineering by Ted Mebane.

It was edited by Jeanette Woods and Courtney Dorning.

Our executive producer is Sami Yenigun.

See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences.

NPR Privacy Policy

2026-02-25 7 min
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