Certain events are virtually always traumatic and are called 'critical incidents.' Among these are physical or sexual assault, the death or serious injury of a fellow employee, witnessing the abuse of an inmate, or being held hostage during a prison disturbance. Correctional personnel exposed to one or more critical incidents experience 'critical incident stress.' This can involve withdrawal from people, activities, and job-related tasks. Other effects may include flashbacks, sleeplessness, depression, and drug abuse. The South Carolina Department of Corrections has established a critical incident stress debriefing for staff who have experienced critical incidents. The debriefing is led by an independent team that facilitates participants' describing their experiences and sharing their feelings with others. The debriefing team also provides information on coping skills. Participants are urged to continue supporting and monitoring one another after the debriefing session. A followup meeting is held 4 weeks after the initial session. All employees who have participated in the program have remained at their posts. Recommendations are offered for preventing the long-term consequences of critical incident stress in corrections. 3 references.