Think the justice system only affects the incarcerated? Think again. In this episode of the How It Really Works series of the Independent Voter Podcast, Chad Peace sits down with corrections expert Michael Cantrell to unpack the hidden mental health crisis facing correctional officers across the country.

Cantrell, a former officer and host of the Prison Officer Podcast, reveals how burnout, PTSD, and emotional isolation have become normalized in a profession that rarely makes the headlines. From training culture to administrative neglect, this conversation peels back the layers on a system that’s breaking the very people we expect to hold it together.

This episode is a must-listen for anyone serious about justice reform—and it’s just one chapter in a much bigger story.

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Some key moments of this episode:

00:00 – Welcome to How It Really Works
01:12 – The Forgotten Side of Justice Reform
03:40 – What Correctional Officers Are Really Trained For
08:25 – The Mental Health Toll of the Job
13:05 – Why Officers Don’t Ask for Help
18:44 – Breaking the Silence Around Trauma
24:31 – Culture Shift vs. Policy Change
30:12 – Wrapping Up: What Real Reform Requires

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