Exposure to potentially psychologically traumatic events for correctional workers is high. However, the mechanisms driving the high prevalence are relatively unexplained. Using data from a cross-sectional, online survey of correctional service workers (n = 845) in Ontario, Canada, collected in 2017–2018, we assess the prevalence of mental disorders with a specific focus on uncertainty in the workplace and between correctional roles. We find that correctional officers, institutional governance, and probation/parole officers appear most at risk of mental disorders (prevalence of any mental disorder was 56.9%, 60.3%, and 59.2%, respectively). We argue slightly lower prevalence among institutional wellness, training, and administrative staff may result in part from their more predictable work environment, where they have more control. The results reaffirm a need for evidence-based proactive mental health activities, knowledge translation, and treatment and a need to explore how authority without control (i.e., unpredictability at work) can inform employee mental health.

惩教工作者暴露于潜在的心理创伤事件的可能性很高。然而，驱动高患病率的机制相对无法解释。使用来自惩教服务工作者的横断面在线调查数据 ( n= 845) 在加拿大安大略省，收集于 2017-2018 年，我们评估了精神障碍的患病率，特别关注工作场所和惩教角色之间的不确定性。我们发现惩教人员、机构治理人员和缓刑/假释人员出现精神障碍的风险最高（任何精神障碍的患病率分别为 56.9%、60.3% 和 59.2%）。我们认为，机构健康、培训和行政人员的患病率略低，部分原因可能是他们更可预测的工作环境，在那里他们有更多的控制权。结果重申需要基于证据的积极主动的心理健康活动、知识转化和治疗，并需要探索没有控制的权威（即工作中的不可预测性）如何影响员工的心理健康。