September 2, 2009: Prison Officers To Have Degrees?

The Howard League for Penal Reform has released a report recommending that prison officers are educated to degree level in order better to manage prisons and reduce reoffending rates. At present, prison officers undergo eight weeks training before taking responsibility for safety and security within a prison. Prison officers have to deal with a wide range of range of complicated issues each requiring different skills and knowledge; for example, 80% of prisoners have mental health problems and 55% of those received into custody are problematic drug users.

The report, Turnkeys or professionals? A vision for the 21st century prison officer, also found that demands on prison officers are growing as the prison population increases. Between 2000 and 2006 the prison population increased by 24% while the number of prison officers only increased by 9%

The Howard League believes more needs to be done to prepare prison officers and create safer, dynamic prisons. The prison officer's job should be compared to that of a social worker, nurse or a teacher, which over the years have all become professions. By withholding crucial training and education, The Howard League for Penal Reform believes that the prison service is failing its staff and putting them at risk.

This report comes at a crucial time as the Ministry of Justicecurrently seeks to downgrade the role of the prison officer as part of its workforce modernisation plans. The prison service is already chronically under-resourced, under-staffed and over-stretched and making further cuts while the prison population continues to increase will only worsen reoffending rates, creating more victims of crime. The Howard League for Penal Reform proposes that prison officers are educated to a higher level and paid accordingly.

Howard League director Frances Crook said:

“Day in, day out, prison officers are faced with difficult and perilous situations with only eight weeks’ training to draw on. Prisons are violent and dangerous places, full of very vulnerable and damaged individuals. Prison officers need comprehensive and thorough training to deal with prisoners’ mental health and offending behaviour needs, as well as prepare prisoners for safe resettlement."

“The prison officer currently has to help prisoners with everything from housing to finances and from detoxification to anger management, all within a horribly complex framework of legislation. Eight weeks is not enough time to acquire the necessary skills and knowledge to fulfil this hugely challenging and complicated role."

“As the government wants 50% of the population to go to university, it is time for the prison officer to join the ranks of the degree-educated professions.”