Promoting Wellness for Prosecutors and Criminal Justice Professionals with Mary Ashley

The demands of working in the criminal justice system can take a significant toll on the mental health and well-being of the professionals who serve within it. Prosecutors and other criminal justice professionals are regularly exposed to traumatic events, high-stakes decision-making, and emotionally challenging cases, increasing their risk for secondary trauma, compassion fatigue, and burnout. As awareness of these challenges grows, there is increasing recognition that supporting workforce well-being is essential to sustaining an effective and ethical justice system.

In this Ask the Expert video, Mary Ashley, Deputy District Attorney of San Bernardino County, discusses the importance of prioritizing wellness for prosecutors and other criminal justice professionals. Drawing on her own experience as a career prosecutor, she explores how prolonged exposure to trauma can affect mental health, job satisfaction, and retention while emphasizing the need to reduce stigma around seeking support. Deputy District Attorney Ashley also reviews survey findings highlighting well-being as a leading factor influencing prosecutors' decisions to leave the profession and discusses why fostering resilience is critical for maintaining a healthy, engaged workforce.

The conversation highlights practical strategies for promoting wellness, including peer support programs, access to culturally competent mental health services, resilience training, flexible workplace practices, and education on healthy coping strategies. Ashley also shares examples of innovative initiatives, from wellness apps and peer networks to facility dogs and dedicated training programs, that are helping criminal justice organizations build a culture where well-being is recognized as an essential component of ethical, effective public service.

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