Date
6-17-2026
Department
Helms School of Government
Degree
Doctor of Philosophy in Criminal Justice (PhD)
Chair
Joseph M. Finck
Keywords
Betrayal, Florida correctional officers (FCOs), first responders, job burnout, law enforcement officers (LEOs), moral injury, legislative inconsistency, Maslach Burnout Inventory-Human Services Survey (MBI-HSS)©, resiliency, The Florida Model, transcendental phenomenology
Disciplines
Labor Relations | Leadership Studies
Recommended Citation
Snipes, Jeffrey A., "The Lived Experience of Inconsistent Legal Recognition: A Phenomenological Study of Job Burnout and Moral Injury in Florida Correctional Officers" (2026). Doctoral Dissertations and Projects. 8583.
https://digitalcommons.liberty.edu/doctoral/8583
Abstract
This qualitative transcendental phenomenological study investigates the lived experiences of Florida correctional officers (FCOs) regarding inconsistent legal recognition and the divergence between functional mandates and legislative definitions. Utilizing Dr. Jonathan Shay’s moral injury framework, this research explores how statutory marginalization functions as a precursor to burnout. A transcendental phenomenological research design was employed; 21 officers were screened using the Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI-HSS) followed by semi-structured interviews with a nine-participant subsample.
Data analysis followed Creswell’s spiral procedures to identify themes describing the essence of these experiences. Findings suggest that inconsistent recognition as first responders catalyzes moral injury, exacerbating burnout and compromising the safety of staff, inmates, and the public. Analysis of study participant feedback culminated in the "Florida Model," a framework for aligning statutory classification with operational realities to address identity dissonance and institutional betrayal. Implementation of this framework offers a strategic pathway to enhance the long-term security, retention, and resiliency of the correctional workforce.
