Burned Out Behind the Badge: What the Research Says About Compassion Fatigue in Juvenile Probation—and What to Do About It
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SESSION INFO

Wednesday, August 19, 2026
8:00 AM - 9:00 AM
Session Type: Workshop
Juvenile probation officers operate at the intersection of trauma, systemic pressure, and unrelenting caseloads — yet workforce wellness remains an afterthought in most agencies. This session presents original doctoral research examining compassion fatigue, burnout, and secondary traumatic stress among juvenile probation officers through the lens of the Professional Quality of Life (ProQOL) framework. Participants will explore what the data reveals about the hidden costs of this work, how those costs manifest across supervision styles and tenure, and why traditional self-care messaging consistently fails to produce sustainable change. Drawing on findings from a qualitative descriptive dissertation study, this session moves beyond awareness to action — introducing the Fidescope Wellness Index™ (FWI™), a profession-specific wellness awareness instrument designed for community corrections professionals. Attendees will leave with a clear conceptual framework, evidence-based talking points for leadership, and a practical tool they can bring back to their agencies immediately.

SESSION PRESENTERS
Dr. Sokoyama Songu Mbriwa
Consultant, Psychology Professor, Retired Supervisory Probation Officer, Fidescope Consulting Group


Dr. Sokoyama K. Songu-Mbriwa is the founder of Fidescope Consulting Group, a Washington, DC-based organizational wellness consulting practice specializing in compassion fatigue, burnout, and secondary traumatic stress in high-stakes professions. He holds a doctorate in Industrial-Organizational Psychology from Grand Canyon University (2024), a SHRM-CP, and PeopleKeys Certified Behavioral Consultant and StudentKeys Specialist designations. Dr. Songu-Mbriwa brings more than 20 years of direct practice experience at DC Superior Court, where he worked as a supervisory probation officer. His 2024 dissertation examined compassion fatigue and burnout among juvenile probation officers using the ProQOL framework through a qualitative descriptive design. That research is the foundation of the Fidescope Wellness Index™ (FWI™), a profession-specific wellness awareness instrument currently in development for community corrections, K–12 education, and child welfare professionals. He is currently an Assistant Professor in Psychology at Bard High School Early College and an adjunct faculty member at Prince George’s Community College. Dr. Songu-Mbriwa is the author of a forthcoming textbook, Everchanging: Contemporary Social and Psychological Issues in Juvenile Justice (Cognella Academic Publishing, 2027) and podcast, Beyond the Violation. A practitioner-scholar whose work bridges direct juvenile justice practice and original doctoral research, he is an emerging voice on workforce wellness in community corrections.