P R O G R A M S T A T E M E N T - 5337.01 - Correctional Support Team Purpose and Scope

Oct 3, 2026

Program Statement OPI RSD/PSB establishes general procedures, guidelines, and priorities for delivering correctional support services to Federal Bureau of Prisons staff and their immediate family members. The Correctional Support Team (CST) supports wellness and resilience to sustain effective functioning after critical incidents. It details program objectives, defines key terms such as CISD, EAP, and psychological first aid, and outlines CST structure across national, regional, and institutional levels.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryResearch & Report

FormatPDF

Pages11

Reading Time28 min

AccessFree to download

PURPOSE AND SCOPE

Program Objectives

Summary of Changes

DEFINITIONS

Critical Incident

Critical Incident Stress Debriefing (CISD)

Employee Assistance Program (EAP)

Family Support Center (FSC)

Home/Hospital Visit

Individual Outreach

On-scene Support Center (OSSC)

Peer-Support Services

Psychological First Aid

Resilience

Stress First Aid

Walking and Talking

Wellness

Wellness Fair

Wellness/Resilience Training and Challenges

STRUCTURE OF CORRECTIONAL SUPPORT TEAM

U.S. Department of Justice Federal Bureau of Prisons P R O G R A M S T A T E M E N T OPI RSD/PSB NUMBER 5337.01 DATE April 4, 2023 Correctional Support Team /s/ Approved: Colette S. Peters Director, Federal Bureau of Prisons 1. PURPOSE AND SCOPE. This Program Statement establishes general procedures, guidelines, and priorities for the delivery of support services to Federal Bureau of Prisons (Bureau) staff and their immediate family members. The mission of the Correctional Support Team (CST) is to help staff maintain levels of wellness and resilience that support effective functioning in a correctional environment. The CST operates in compliance with Department of Justice (DOJ) Order 1200.1 Chapter 7-2, Traumatic Incident Management (TIM) . CST is one of the Bureau’s Crisis Management Teams. a. Program Objectives ■ The Correctional Support Team operates in conjunction with the Employee Assistance Program within the Psychology Services Branch; ■ To enhance the resilience of staff and their family members; ■ To aid staff and their family members in recovery following a traumatic incident; ■ To improve the morale of staff. b. Summary of Changes ■ This Program Statement establishes a change in name from Crisis Support Team to Correctional Support Team. ■ This Program Statement expands the scope of the CST beyond crisis response to also include wellness promotion for staff. Policy Rescinded P5500.15 Correctional Services Manual, Section 603, Crisis Support Team (1/2/2018) Institution Supplement. None required. Should local facilities make any changes outside changes required in national policy or establish any additional local procedures to implement national policy, the local Union may invoke to negotiate procedures or appropriate arrangements. 2. DEFINITIONS ■ Critical Incident-Critical incidents are unexpected or disruptive events and range from small-to large-scale, affecting as few as one staff member or all staff at one or multiple institutions. ■ Critical Incident Stress Debriefing (CISD) -CISD is a type of intervention useful after a critical incident to mitigate the effects of trauma. ■ Employee Assistance Program (EAP)– A workplace sponsored program to promote mental health and wellness for staff and their families. ■ Family Support Center (FSC) -An area or shelter designed for staff families. In a protracted incident, family members can gather here to receive information in an area that provides privacy. ■ Home/Hospital visit-When CST visit staff in their home or hospital when a staff member is experiencing a personal crisis. ■ Individual Outreach-When CST becomes aware of a staff member who is having difficulties, CST can reach out on an individual basis to provide support. If needed, they can refer staff to community resources or EAP. This does not require full-team activation. ■ On-scene Support Center (OSSC) -A designated area at an institution which is easily accessible for staff to receive information, resources, and support. ■ Peer-Support Services-Support services provided to staff by co-workers. Services are supportive in nature and not considered psychological treatment. Services are aimed at developing a culture of caring in the workplace and help staff maintain adequate levels of wellness and resilience. Peer-Support Services can act as a liaison between staff who are experiencing stressors and providers of more intensive intervention. ■ Psychological First Aid-A set of skills used in response to an acute crisis to help an individual return to their wellness baseline. These skills help mitigate the effects of trauma or maladjustment. ■ Resilience-How quickly an individual returns to their baseline of wellness following astressor and the ability to grow and thrive in the face of challenges. ■ Stress First Aid-A set of skills used to enhance wellness and resilience in high-stress occupations. These skills help mitigate the negative effects of c

FAQs

What is the purpose and scope of this Program Statement?

It establishes general procedures, guidelines, and priorities for delivering support services to Federal Bureau of Prisons staff and their immediate family members.

What are the main objectives of the Correctional Support Team (CST)?

CST helps staff and family members enhance resilience, recover following traumatic incidents, improve staff morale, and coordinates with the Employee Assistance Program within the Psychology Services Branch.

How does CST structure its operations across levels?

CST includes National, Regional, and Institution Correctional Support Team levels, with regional and institutional teams led by a Team Leader and Assistant Team Leaders (Peer Support and Incident Response), supported by roles including a Chaplain and Psychologist.

Oct 3, 2026

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