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Positive news about morale and retention in the law enforcement field is rare. Yet, that’s exactly what the Santa Fe County Sheriff’s Office in New Mexico reported in a recent media release announcing the successful completion of its six-month pilot of the “4/8/40 Work Well Live Well” schedule, launched on October 5, 2024. The innovative model—four 8-hour shifts totaling 40 hours per week—was offered to patrol deputies as an opt-in/opt-out option. What made this pilot truly groundbreaking was that participating deputies received up to two hours of administrative leave per shift dedicated to physical and mental wellness activities. Performance and productivity data were tracked and compared to corresponding periods in 2023 and 2024. Results from the October 2024–April 2025 pilot were striking: Overtime hours decreased by 53%. Vacancy rates dropped dramatically—from 24% in August 2024 to 3%. Average satisfaction scores among opt-in deputies reached 88/10, peaking at 9.27/10 in March 2025. Deputy-initiated calls for service rose by 69%. Traffic citations grew by 84%. Traffic stops increased by 94%. Motor vehicle crashes declined by 20%, attributed to heightened enforcement activity. Response [...]

The man next door is a strange one. On the outside he appears to be the same as you and me, but there are signs that he is different from you and me. He’s quiet. And he never stops scanning his surroundings. When you talk to him, he never looks into your eyes for long. He is always looking around. Whenever possible, he stands with his back against a wall. I wonder about this man with the guarded look in his eyes and a sadness that I hope and pray is never in mine. We went out to eat one time and he was almost rude in making sure he sat where his back was to a wall and he could see all entryways. As I grew to know and understand this man, I couldn’t help but think, but he seems so nice? He was so gentle with little children and animals. With grown-ups, he was sometimes short, harsh. [...]

It is not uncommon for peer support teams (PSTs) to be trained and deployed solely to assist staff affected by critical incidents. These are typically defined as incidents involving violence, injury, or death (VID)—whether the death occurred from natural or unnatural causes. In essence, the term refers to highly stressful, life-threatening, and potentially psychologically traumatizing events. However, limiting peer support to critical incidents only has several important drawbacks. Below are four reasons why this approach falls short. Limited reach. Usually, only staff who were physically present during the incident are approached by the PST. Inconsistent definitions. Different agencies may define “critical incidents” in varying ways. As a result, some VIDs may trigger a peer support response while others do not—even though the excluded events may also be deeply traumatizing. Unrecognized secondary impact. Staff who were not physically present may still be profoundly affected. Examples include: Employees whose friends were assaulted, even if they work at another facility. Those triggered because the event reminds them [...]

A Series on Correctional Staff Suicide Risk and Paths to PreventionAt Desert Waters, the issue of correctional staff suicide remains at the forefront of our minds. We continue to receive messages from across the country about staff who have died by suicide. We cannot simply read the news and move on. A concerted, proactive effort is needed—one that goes far beyond a one-hour training on recognizing the signs of suicidal thinking.With this article, we begin a series examining the complex and interrelated factors that increase correctional staff’s risk for suicide—and exploring what can be done to reduce that risk and strengthen protective factors. This series has several goals:To address the multifaceted causes of correctional staff suicideTo examine the interplay between individual vulnerabilities and occupational stressorsTo challenge stigma surrounding mental health struggles and seeking supportTo promote systemic change by fostering healthier, more supportive workplace cultures—with policies and resources that protect and sustain staff well-beingTo advance prevention strategies that strengthen constructive coping skills and resilienceWhen Strength Becomes a Trap: How Correctional Culture [...]

Most people would say that what they want from life is to be happy. But what is the best recipe for happiness? The Study of the Good Life Thanks to the 85-year Harvard Study of Adult Development, we now have compelling evidence about the source of happiness—and its powerful impact on health and longevity. Directed by Robert Waldinger, MD, and Marc Schulz, PhD, and described in their book The Good Life: Lessons From the World’s Longest Scientific Study of Happiness, this study has followed three generations—over 2,000 people—for eight and a half decades. While many assume happiness comes from money, success, or status, this long-term research found otherwise: Happiness is rooted in social connectedness—in love and caring relationships. Participants who invested in strong, supportive relationships were the happiest and the healthiest. To summarize: “The study found that the people who stayed healthiest and lived longest were the people who had the strongest connections to others. The warmth of these connections had a direct positive impact [...]

I grew up without alcohol in the house. My dad occasionally sipped a Cadillac Margaretta and champagne at brunch once a year. As I hit my college years I found alcohol was a part of the culture. We drank when we were happy. Drank when we were down, and drank because the day ended in Y. As I got into corrections I thought I was becoming a career professional. Little did I know my college drinking was preparing me for my new coping mechanism in my new job. I discovered rather quickly that alcohol and prison went together like peanut butter and jelly. Week one I was invited with the other third watch officers to the downtown bar for drinks after work. I of course said no because I had my life outside of work. Fast forward a year, and I couldn’t say no. My life now was corrections, and I lost sight of my outside life. Through the [...]

We’re excited to introduce a new regular column in the Correctional Oasis—Peer Support Perspectives! This space is dedicated to addressing the real-world challenges, questions, and situations that arise within peer support programs across public safety organizations. Each month, we’ll offer practical guidance and insights to help strengthen your agency’s peer support efforts and promote the well-being of those who serve. We invite you to submit your questions or scenarios to admin@desertwaters.com. Every submission will remain completely anonymous, with all identifying details removed before publication. Let’s learn from one another’s experiences and work together to build the strongest, most effective peer support teams possible! Why Should Public Agencies Invest in Peer Support Programs? Public safety professionals work in a career unlike any other—one that routinely exposes them to operational, organizational, and traumatic stressors. The weight of these experiences doesn’t stay at the workplace; it can spill over into every part of a person’s life—home, relationships, and individual well-being. Over time, the cumulative impact [...]

The holiday season is meant to be a time of joy, love, and connection with family and friends—and for some, a time of spiritual reflection. Yet, despite the festive cheer, this period can also bring stress, overindulgence, and exhaustion. This article explores common stressors of the season and offers practical strategies for reducing avoidable holiday strain. The Challenges of the Season From Thanksgiving through New Year’s, many of us experience overstimulation and overdrive. We may be on the go nonstop—overeating, overdrinking, overspending, and trying not to miss any fun. By the time the new year arrives, some face exhaustion, buyer’s remorse, and mounting holiday debt. Gift-giving can be a major source of stress. The pressure to find “perfect” gifts, compete with others, or give to everyone we know can leave us buying items we don’t truly want or need, simply to check boxes off a list. Similarly, competition over holiday décor, parties, and appearances can intensify stress. Social obligations—numerous events, [...]

What if I told you that two simple words—expressed with the right attitude at work—can improve both your inner atmosphere (your emotions and thoughts) and your outer atmosphere (the quality of your interactions with coworkers and those you supervise)? The benefits don’t stop there. They can even follow you home, enhancing your personal life as well. These two powerful words are “Thank you.” Research strongly supports what people have intuitively known for centuries: a thankful heart benefits both mind, body, and relationships. Here’s a brief summary, with links at the end for further reading. Expressing thankfulness activates our parasympathetic nervous system—our “rest and digest” response. This triggers a cascade of positive physiological effects: lower levels of stress hormones, slower heart rate, reduced blood pressure, increased heart rate variability (a good thing), muscle relaxation, improved digestion, reduced anxiety and hypervigilance, and improved mood. The result? Greater calm, contentment, emotional balance, and psychological resilience. At the same time, thankfulness reduces activation of the sympathetic nervous system—our “fight, flight, [...]

Thoughts and actions to end one’s life often arise from what feels like unbearable suffering—whether emotional or physical—combined with deep hopelessness that the pain will ever stop or that life can improve. This suffering may stem from an actual or perceived loss. Crucially, it is often accompanied by resistance—or even outright refusal—to accept the reality of one’s circumstances. The inner dialogue may sound like: “This can’t be happening. I won’t accept this. I won’t go on like this. No!” Such resistance to reality, refusing to accept what is true, ultimately harms us. Fighting facts does not change them—it only magnifies and prolongs our distress. As Marsha Linehan 1, a leading expert on suicide prevention and the creator of Dialectical Behavior Therapy, has said: “Acceptance is the only way out of hell.” She speaks from experience. In her early adult years, overwhelmed by emotional pain, she made repeated suicide attempts and spent two years in a psychiatric hospital. So, what exactly is Radical Acceptance? Why [...]