Behind the Caseload: Compassion Fatigue and Burnout in Community Corrections
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SESSION INFO

Tuesday, August 26, 2025
2:00 PM - 3:30 PM
Session Type: Workshop
Community corrections professionals carry more than just caseloads – they also carry trauma, crisis, and responsibility. Both enforcers and advocates, they navigate the emotional toll of helping clients change while protecting public safety. Still, their own well-being is too often overlooked. Examining burnout, secondary traumatic stress, and compassion fatigue reveals the invisible cost of this work. Research using the Professional Quality of Life Scale shows how trauma exposure, high caseloads, and role conflict can lead to serious consequences. This session focuses on the lived experiences of those on the front lines, exposing a vital truth: meaningful change begins with supporting the well-being of the people who make that change possible.

SESSION PRESENTERS
Dr. Cassandra Leigh Torres
Assistant Professor of Criminal Justice, Bellevue University


Dr. Cassandra Torres is an Assistant Professor of Criminal Justice at Bellevue University, with extensive experience in both academia and corrections. She previously served as Program Director and Associate Professor at Midland University. Dr. Torres holds a Doctor of Criminal Justice from California University of Pennsylvania, a Master of Forensic Science from Nebraska Wesleyan University, and a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice and Psychology from Wayne State College. Before entering higher education full-time, she worked with the Nebraska Department of Correctional Services in several roles, ultimately becoming the Restrictive Housing Program Manager. In these positions, she oversaw inmate programming, led investigations and disciplinary hearings, and helped shape statewide policy. Her teaching emphasizes experiential learning, focusing on real-world application of criminal justice principles. Dr. Torres is a regular conference presenter and active member of professional organizations, including the Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences, the American Probation and Parole Association, and the International Association for Identification. She is passionate about equipping future criminal justice professionals with the knowledge, skills, and ethical foundation needed for meaningful careers in the field.