Staff victimization encompasses events that are unexpected, difficult to cope with, impossible to prevent or control, potentially life-threatening, and extremely stressful. Correctional officers work with high levels of daily stress and, as a result, are likely to have strong physical and emotional reactions to traumatic events. Emotional reactions following a traumatic incident may include symptoms of post-traumatic stress syndrome; in addition, traumatized officers must go through a natural grieving and reconstruction period. The article also describes how jail officers can help a colleague who has just suffered some type of victimization.