Dr. Elaine CrawleyDirector

www.sucps.salford.ac.uk

Salford University Centre for Prison Studies (SUCPS)

'Prison Officer 'Prison Officer Training: What is Training: What is

'enough'? What should 'enough'? What should it look like? How can it look like? How can we best deliver it?’we best deliver it?’

  

Structure of presentationStructure of presentation

The work of the Salford University The work of the Salford University Centre for Prison Studies Centre for Prison Studies

The need for professionalism in The need for professionalism in prisonsprisons

Prison officer training: some Prison officer training: some international comparisons & criticismsinternational comparisons & criticisms

The Future: Where do we want to be?The Future: Where do we want to be?

The Centre’s Aims, Objectives and The Centre’s Aims, Objectives and MissionMission

The challenges for those working in prisons, The challenges for those working in prisons, and the range of concerns relating to and the range of concerns relating to imprisonment itself, have never been imprisonment itself, have never been greater. greater.

Indeed, the relentless rise in the prison Indeed, the relentless rise in the prison population (and the increasing diversity of population (and the increasing diversity of that population) both in the UK and in many that population) both in the UK and in many other countries poses many dilemmas for other countries poses many dilemmas for those who run prisons and work in them.those who run prisons and work in them.

It is in this context that Salford It is in this context that Salford University’s Centre for Prison Studies University’s Centre for Prison Studies (SUCPS) is encouraging prison (SUCPS) is encouraging prison practitioners, prison officials and practitioners, prison officials and policy makers to exchange ideas with policy makers to exchange ideas with us. us.

We hope that ideas- sharing will result We hope that ideas- sharing will result in truly collaborative partnerships in truly collaborative partnerships which can improve the lives of both which can improve the lives of both prisoners and prison staff. prisoners and prison staff.

Priority Research topics of the Priority Research topics of the Centre Centre

Prison officer training and welfarePrison officer training and welfare The management of elderly prisonersThe management of elderly prisoners Security and risk management in prisonsSecurity and risk management in prisons Young people in prison and detentionYoung people in prison and detention Ethnic minority prisoners and foreign Ethnic minority prisoners and foreign

nationalsnationals Women and babies in prisonWomen and babies in prison The effects of imprisonment The effects of imprisonment Prisoner health and resettlementPrisoner health and resettlement Radicalisation and extremism in prisons Radicalisation and extremism in prisons

Priority: Prison Officer Priority: Prison Officer Training & WelfareTraining & Welfare

In this presentation I am going to In this presentation I am going to focus on the first of these priorities – focus on the first of these priorities – the working lives of prison officers. the working lives of prison officers.

Prison officers work in highly Prison officers work in highly complex settings, and with society’s complex settings, and with society’s most vulnerable and damaged people. most vulnerable and damaged people.

Unfortunately – and despite their Unfortunately – and despite their central role in day-to-day prison life - central role in day-to-day prison life - prison officers are an occupational prison officers are an occupational group whose skills and commitment group whose skills and commitment have so often been undervalued and have so often been undervalued and ignored.ignored.

In various ways, prison officers’ In various ways, prison officers’ contribution to making ex-contribution to making ex-prisoners less likely to commit prisoners less likely to commit crimes is constantly crimes is constantly undermined. This is a sad state undermined. This is a sad state of affairs, since the uniformed of affairs, since the uniformed prison officer is often the only prison officer is often the only positive role-model a prisoner positive role-model a prisoner sees.sees.

Why have prison officers Why have prison officers been undervalued and been undervalued and

ignored?ignored? Largely invisible (high walls)Largely invisible (high walls) Not good at promoting what Not good at promoting what

they no (little opportunity)they no (little opportunity) Public perception (that officers Public perception (that officers

are stupid, brutal, uneducated)are stupid, brutal, uneducated) Skills go un-noticedSkills go un-noticed Complexity of job / skills base Complexity of job / skills base

unknownunknown

Imprisonment TodayImprisonment Today

Managing prisoners - > caring Managing prisoners - > caring for prisonersfor prisoners

Turn-key / Screw - > Prison Turn-key / Screw - > Prison OfficersOfficers

This has involved a process of:This has involved a process of: Specialization andSpecialization and Professionalization Professionalization Why the need for either?Why the need for either? Because……Because……

Increasingly diverse population (elderly, Increasingly diverse population (elderly, young, foreign national, lifers, mentally ill etc)young, foreign national, lifers, mentally ill etc)

Increasing emphasis on ‘treatment’ (eg Sex Increasing emphasis on ‘treatment’ (eg Sex Offender Treatment) and ‘rehabilitation’ so Offender Treatment) and ‘rehabilitation’ so that the offender can become a law-abiding, that the offender can become a law-abiding, productive citizenproductive citizen

Increasing requirement on the part of prison Increasing requirement on the part of prison officers to be knowledgeable about prison law, officers to be knowledgeable about prison law, prisoners’ rights, decency agenda, prisoner prisoners’ rights, decency agenda, prisoner needs (esp. minority populations noted above).needs (esp. minority populations noted above).

Professionalisation is directly related to the Professionalisation is directly related to the quality of staff morale, recruitment and quality of staff morale, recruitment and retention of the ‘right’ staffretention of the ‘right’ staff

Training v EducationTraining v Education

Training is not the same as educationTraining is not the same as educationTraining allows you to do a specific job Training allows you to do a specific job properlyproperlyEducation, however, has a range of Education, however, has a range of benefits, because a better informed benefits, because a better informed citizen with a better understanding of citizen with a better understanding of the social world is more likely to be……the social world is more likely to be……

- More tolerant More tolerant - Less racistLess racist- Less sexistLess sexist- Less homophobicLess homophobic

Frequent polls conducted across Frequent polls conducted across Europe show that intolerance, Europe show that intolerance, prejudice and discrimination fall as prejudice and discrimination fall as levels of education rise. So people with levels of education rise. So people with secondary school qualifications are secondary school qualifications are more tolerant than those with no more tolerant than those with no qualifications, people with a degree-qualifications, people with a degree-level qualifications are more tolerant level qualifications are more tolerant that those with no such qualifications.that those with no such qualifications.

It is perhaps not easy to see why this It is perhaps not easy to see why this correlation should be so strong or so correlation should be so strong or so consistent, unless we think in terms of consistent, unless we think in terms of the generalised benefits of education the generalised benefits of education i.e. the ways in which education differs i.e. the ways in which education differs from training. from training.

So, a better educated person is So, a better educated person is likely to have a better likely to have a better understanding of how the social understanding of how the social world ‘works’, is more likely to world ‘works’, is more likely to feel (to some extent) in control of feel (to some extent) in control of his or her life and less likely to his or her life and less likely to fall prey to fears and insecurities fall prey to fears and insecurities and ‘fall for’ extreme views.and ‘fall for’ extreme views.

Prison Officer Training: Prison Officer Training: International DifferencesInternational Differences

England and Wales:England and Wales:Current Recruitment and Current Recruitment and

Training Process Training Process In England and Wales, prison officers are In England and Wales, prison officers are not required to have any formal not required to have any formal qualifications. In the 1990s the Prison qualifications. In the 1990s the Prison Service introduced a requirement that all Service introduced a requirement that all applicants have five O-levels or GCSEs, applicants have five O-levels or GCSEs, including English and Maths. including English and Maths.

This expectation was slowly abandoned, This expectation was slowly abandoned, however, as it became clear the number however, as it became clear the number of recruits was falling, especially in in of recruits was falling, especially in in London and south-east England, where London and south-east England, where livign standards are higher.livign standards are higher.

So now…….So now…….

The current recruitment process for The current recruitment process for applicants to work in public sector applicants to work in public sector prisons begins with a one-hour prisons begins with a one-hour online numeracy test, completed at online numeracy test, completed at the time of application. If the result the time of application. If the result is satisfactory, applicants are is satisfactory, applicants are invited to a Recruitment and invited to a Recruitment and Assessment Day. Assessment Day.

At the assessment centre prospective At the assessment centre prospective recruits complete a 20 minute numeracy recruits complete a 20 minute numeracy test and a 45-minute language test—with test and a 45-minute language test—with separate elements covering reading separate elements covering reading comprehension and completing standard comprehension and completing standard forms and writing skills- together with forms and writing skills- together with four 10-minute role play simulations. four 10-minute role play simulations. These are not prison-based; rather they These are not prison-based; rather they are intended "to measure the core are intended "to measure the core behaviours needed to be an effective behaviours needed to be an effective prison officer."prison officer."

Training is carried out at one of Training is carried out at one of nine centres in England and nine centres in England and Wales and the prison at which the Wales and the prison at which the trainee officer will be based. It trainee officer will be based. It lasts lasts eight weekseight weeks (reduced from (reduced from 12 weeks). It includes shadowing 12 weeks). It includes shadowing a more senior officer, discussion a more senior officer, discussion groups and some physical work in groups and some physical work in control and restraint techniques.control and restraint techniques.

Prison officers who are working directly Prison officers who are working directly with juveniles are required to take an with juveniles are required to take an additional week's training course additional week's training course known as the Juvenile Awareness Staff known as the Juvenile Awareness Staff Programme (JASP). It consists of the Programme (JASP). It consists of the following: following:

Child protection (1 day)Child protection (1 day) Understanding and working with Understanding and working with

children and young people in custody (2 children and young people in custody (2 days)days)

Mental health awareness (½ day)Mental health awareness (½ day) Substance misuse (½ day) Substance misuse (½ day) Vulnerability Assessment (1 day) Vulnerability Assessment (1 day) Training planning and Training planning and

resettlement (1 day)resettlement (1 day) Managing difficult behaviour (½ day)Managing difficult behaviour (½ day) Safeguards (½ day)Safeguards (½ day)

From September 2007 all new From September 2007 all new prison officers had to take a prison officers had to take a National Vocational Qualification National Vocational Qualification (NVQ) in custodial work during (NVQ) in custodial work during their first year. The 8 week initial their first year. The 8 week initial training course forms the first part training course forms the first part [of the NVQ Level 3]. [of the NVQ Level 3].

It is supposed to provide the It is supposed to provide the underpinning knowledge and core underpinning knowledge and core skills needed to complete the NVQ skills needed to complete the NVQ and to work effectively with and to work effectively with prisonersprisoners

Is This Enough?Is This Enough?

Numerous organisations and Numerous organisations and individuals have individuals have argued that the argued that the training period should also be much training period should also be much longer. According to the Howard longer. According to the Howard League for Penal Reform:League for Penal Reform:

““8 weeks is not enough time to acquire 8 weeks is not enough time to acquire the necessary skills and knowledge to the necessary skills and knowledge to fulfil this hugely challenging and fulfil this hugely challenging and complicated role."complicated role."

Similarly, from the Director of the Prison Similarly, from the Director of the Prison Reform Trust:Reform Trust:

‘ ‘Prison staff in England and Wales, with Prison staff in England and Wales, with eight weeks' basic training, receive the eight weeks' basic training, receive the least training and development of all least training and development of all public service workers, including other public service workers, including other justice colleagues. This compares justice colleagues. This compares unfavourably with most western European unfavourably with most western European countries. France, for instance, offers six countries. France, for instance, offers six months' introductory training, and months' introductory training, and Norway two years' professional Norway two years' professional development, for those choosing a career development, for those choosing a career in the prison service.’in the prison service.’

Prison Reform TrustPrison Reform Trust

‘‘In what other profession would In what other profession would eight weeks training, and eight weeks training, and minimal supervision, be seen as minimal supervision, be seen as adequate to prepare and support adequate to prepare and support staff in a role that involves staff in a role that involves caring for some of the most caring for some of the most vulnerable and troubled vulnerable and troubled members of our society’. members of our society’.

She went on to say that:She went on to say that:

‘‘We would not employ a social We would not employ a social worker who does not have worker who does not have educational qualifications and educational qualifications and professional training, it would be professional training, it would be unthinkable, and it should be unthinkable, and it should be unthinkable to have a prison officer unthinkable to have a prison officer who does not have the same training who does not have the same training and qualifications as a nurse or and qualifications as a nurse or social worker. Prison officers require social worker. Prison officers require complex oral skills, negotiating complex oral skills, negotiating skills; a knowledge of psychology, skills; a knowledge of psychology, and a knowledge of criminal justice’and a knowledge of criminal justice’

Professor Andrew Coyle, Kings Professor Andrew Coyle, Kings College, College, London, London, describes describes the initial training as the initial training as "abysmal“. "abysmal“.

He said:He said:““Giving them [prison officers] Giving them [prison officers] eight weeks' training, sometimes eight weeks' training, sometimes within a prison, not in a prison within a prison, not in a prison college, and then sending them college, and then sending them off to a dispersal prison, or to a off to a dispersal prison, or to a local prison, or to a women's local prison, or to a women's prison, or to a young offenders' prison, or to a young offenders' prison and expecting them to prison and expecting them to know what to do and how to do it know what to do and how to do it is really quite wrong” is really quite wrong”

And from officers And from officers themselves….themselves….

““It’s ridiculous. I worked in a It’s ridiculous. I worked in a factory before, and eight weeks factory before, and eight weeks later I’m looking after murderers later I’m looking after murderers and rapists, and people that want and rapists, and people that want to kill themselves.”to kill themselves.”

““The job keeps changing. They The job keeps changing. They want us to do more and more with want us to do more and more with more and more prisoners. But the more and more prisoners. But the basic training stays the same.”basic training stays the same.”

Other countries do things Other countries do things rather differently…..rather differently…..

Norway: The Department Norway: The Department for Basic Trainingfor Basic Training

Each prison officer undertakes a Each prison officer undertakes a two year training programme.  To two year training programme.  To qualify for the staff academy, qualify for the staff academy, applicants must have the entrance applicants must have the entrance qualifications for higher education. qualifications for higher education.

The first yearThe first year comprises 4 weeks at comprises 4 weeks at the college, followed by practical the college, followed by practical work with close supervision and work with close supervision and guidance for 42 weeks, with two guidance for 42 weeks, with two study days weekly. study days weekly.

In In the second yearthe second year there are 44 there are 44 weeks of academic work weeks of academic work followed by 6 weeks working as followed by 6 weeks working as a prison officer. To qualify, the a prison officer. To qualify, the trainee must pass a series of trainee must pass a series of exams, and satisfactorily exams, and satisfactorily complete each placement and complete each placement and project work. project work.

Officers must undertake a Officers must undertake a further week of training further week of training after three years in post, or after three years in post, or on promotion or change of on promotion or change of responsibility. Most prisons responsibility. Most prisons also organize local training. also organize local training. This level of commitment to This level of commitment to training prison officers training prison officers reflects the level of reflects the level of responsibility officers have responsibility officers have for the well-being of for the well-being of prisoners.prisoners.

Correctional Service of Norway Correctional Service of Norway Staff Academy - Staff Academy - KRUS KRUS - is a part of - is a part of the Service for the Care and the Service for the Care and Confinement of Offenders in Norway Confinement of Offenders in Norway which also consists of the Prison which also consists of the Prison Service, the Probation Service and Service, the Probation Service and the Prison and Probation the Prison and Probation Department IT-Service. Department IT-Service.

Here is the structure of the training Here is the structure of the training provided to prison officers in provided to prison officers in Norway…..Norway…..

Theme Theme 11

Criminal Case Proceedings and related law Criminal Case Proceedings and related law subjectssubjects

Theme Theme 22

Ethics and professionalism in prison workEthics and professionalism in prison work

Theme Theme 33

Practial prison work and safetyPractial prison work and safety

Theme Theme 44

Criminology and criminal politicsCriminology and criminal politics

Theme Theme 55

Therapy work in institutionsTherapy work in institutions

Theme Theme 66

The role of the Prison OfficerThe role of the Prison Officer

1st Year1st YearPre-coursePre-course

4 weeks at The 4 weeks at The Prison Officer Prison Officer

CollegeCollege

Practical work Practical work with close with close

supervision and supervision and guidance guidance

experience of 42 experience of 42 weeks. Two study weeks. Two study

days weeklydays weekly

Exam themeExam theme 1 1

2nd Year2nd Year Theoretical Theoretical studies 44 weeksstudies 44 weeks

Works as prison Works as prison officers 6 weeksofficers 6 weeks

Exam theme 2, 3, Exam theme 2, 3, 4, 5, 6.4, 5, 6.

Project workProject work

33rdrd year year and and

beyondbeyond

Working in the Working in the prisonprison

1 further week of 1 further week of training after training after three years in three years in post, or on post, or on promotion or promotion or change of change of responsibility.responsibility.

Professionalising Prison officersProfessionalising Prison officers Prison officers recognise an increasing need Prison officers recognise an increasing need

for them to properly trained, because their for them to properly trained, because their role is increasingly complex. They have to be role is increasingly complex. They have to be protectors, enforcers, carers and educators.protectors, enforcers, carers and educators.

Because they have to try to educate (and hence Because they have to try to educate (and hence rehabilitate) prisoners, requires staff support rehabilitate) prisoners, requires staff support and training (i.e. they need to be educated and training (i.e. they need to be educated themselves!)themselves!)

Training New Recruits – there are significant Training New Recruits – there are significant international discrepancies in terms of length international discrepancies in terms of length of training and content. (8 weeks v 2years)of training and content. (8 weeks v 2years)

In my view there should be a In my view there should be a minimum set of criteria across EU minimum set of criteria across EU that training has to satisfy…that training has to satisfy…

But we have to decide, first, But we have to decide, first, whatwhat those criteria should be and those criteria should be and whywhy

What do we want from our officers?What do we want from our officers? What we want from them What we want from them

determines the training period and determines the training period and content we providecontent we provide

How can we achieve what we want?How can we achieve what we want?

An old saying comes to An old saying comes to mind: mind:

'If you think training is 'If you think training is expensive, try costing expensive, try costing

ignorance.'ignorance.'

Thank you for your kind Thank you for your kind attentionattention

I will be happy to answer any I will be happy to answer any questions or commentsquestions or comments