Honoring the unseen strength of those who serve.

For many families, Christmas morning begins with laughter, warmth, and traditions that come around only once a year. But for thousands of correctional officers and staff across the nation, Christmas looks very different.

While most of the world wakes up to stockings, wrapping paper, and holiday meals, correctional professionals wake up long before sunrise, boots on the floor, preparing for another twelve-hour shift behind the walls. Because for them, and for the families who love them, Christmas isn’t a guaranteed day off. It’s often just another day where safety, duty, and vigilance cannot pause.

Christmas Behind the Walls: A Day of Duty

Correctional officers know the holiday schedule long before it arrives, but that doesn’t make it easier. Many spend Christmas Eve restless—not with excitement, but with the weight of knowing they won’t see their family wake up, open presents, or shout “Merry Christmas!” together.

Inside the facility, the day unfolds like any other—but with amplified emotions.

• Inmate depression, anxiety, and suicide attempts spike during the holidays.

• Violence can increase as tensions and loneliness rise.

• Staff remain outnumbered—sometimes a hundred to one—and must rely on their training, instincts, and each other to get through the shift.

Many officers share a potluck meal between emergencies and counts, reheating cold food in the microwave because even on Christmas Day, a break is never guaranteed. One officer joked that the best gift he received one year was a single can of soda he managed to pocket during the shift. Moments of warmth are precious because they are rare.

And yet—even on Christmas—correctional officers save lives. They respond to suicide attempts, break up fights, and provide calm in the chaos. When their shift finally ends, often later than scheduled, they walk through the door at home carrying the heaviness of the day behind them… but still trying to show up with a smile.

The Quiet Strength of Correctional Families

While correctional staff are working the holiday, their families carry their own weight.

Family members learn to celebrate early, celebrate late, or celebrate twice.
Kids grow up knowing Christmas morning may happen on the 26th, or the 28th, or whenever Mom or Dad finally gets a day off.

Spouses face the loneliness of the phone calls:

“What did you get for Christmas?”

“I don’t know yet… we’re waiting for Dad to get home.”

Friends may not understand. The extended family may unintentionally criticize. But correctional families know a truth most people never see: holidays don’t define family, commitment does.

Correctional families learn flexibility, patience, and resilience. They learn that memories aren’t tied to the date on the calendar but to the time spent together, no matter when it happens. And they learn to hold space for both pride and frustration at the same time.

As one CO spouse shared, “We chose this life. Our kids didn’t. So we do everything we can to make the holiday special when we finally get to be together.”

Finding Family in One Another

Despite the challenges, there is a unique bond within the correctional profession. Many staff speak fondly of holiday potlucks, shared jokes, early-morning count together, and the camaraderie of spending Christmas Day with those who understand the sacrifice.

For some, their correctional peers become their second family, the ones who stand shoulder to shoulder on the toughest days of the year.

While inmates receive holiday meals and visits from their families, correctional officers often spend these moments managing safety and security. It’s not lost on them. Yet they show up anyway, because they know their work protects entire communities.

The Heart of a Correctional Christmas

A correctional family Christmas is:

• Unconventional but deeply meaningful.

• Quiet but filled with understanding.

• Delayed but never diminished.

• Rooted in service, sacrifice, and unwavering support.

It is a reminder that the holidays aren’t perfect for anyone, but for correctional families, the season comes with a unique blend of duty and devotion.

Each correctional officer who works the holiday, and each family member who supports them, demonstrates a profound truth:

Christmas isn’t about the day you celebrate; it’s about the people you celebrate with, whenever you can finally be together.

As we move through this season, may we take a moment to honor our correctional staff who spend their Christmas controlling chaos, saving lives, and keeping our communities safe. And may we honor the families who share in that sacrifice, adjust traditions, and hold their loved ones steady when the holidays grow heavy.

From all of us at the Correctional Peace Officers Foundation:

Thank you for your service. Thank you for your resilience.

Thank you for being the correctional family that holds the line, especially at Christmas.