Responsibilities

A prison officer has responsibility for the security, supervision, training and rehabilitation of people committed to prison by the courts. This includes motivating prisoners to do what is best for themselves and others around them within a safe and healthy environment.

In addition to their custodial duties, prison officers must be able to establish and maintain positive working relationships with prisoners, balancing authority with a large amount of understanding and compassion, in order to effect rehabilitation.

The nature of the role demands the ability to think on your feet, make quick decisions and deal effectively with unexpected situations.

Some aspects of the work vary according to the type of prison and level of security. For example, category A prisoners require closer supervision than category C. However, typical work activities include:

• supervising, managing and controlling prisoners lawfully, safely and securely;

• keeping an account of those in your charge and maintaining proper order;

• performing security checks and search procedures on prisoners, staff and visitors;

• supervising visits and carrying out patrol duties;

• escorting prisoners on external visits to, for example, hospital;

• assisting in prisoner reviews;

• advising and counselling prisoners and making sure they have access to professional help if needed;

• dealing with incidents as the 'first on scene' and working as part of a team to resolve the issues;

• employing authorised physical control and restraint procedures where appropriate;

• taking care of prisoners' property;

• being aware of prisoners' rights and dignity and their personal responsibility;

• providing appropriate care and support for vulnerable prisoners and those at risk of self-harm;

• promoting anti-bullying and suicide prevention policies;

• taking an active part in rehabilitation programmes, including workshops;

• assessing and advising prisoners;

• developing relationships with other specialist staff, including health and social work professionals;

• preparing relevant reports and documentation for managers/quality checking purposes;

• maintaining and updating records and writing prisoner reports;

• complying with national and local policies and legislation.

Higher grade prison officers have extra responsibilities, such as supervising other officers or looking after an area or wing of the prison (From….).

Ex. 3. Find the Ukrainian equivalents for the following words and expressions:

1. people committed to prison

2. motivating prisoners to do what is best (for)

3. a safe and healthy environment

4. to establish and maintain positive working relationships with prisoners\

5. balancing authority

6. compassion

7. the ability to think on your feet

8. keeping an account of those in your charge

9. escorting prisoners on external visits (to)

10. assisting in prisoner reviews

11. advising and counselling

12. working as part of a team

13. to resolve the issues

14. to restraint procedures

15. being aware of

16. vulnerable prisoners

17. risk of self-harm

18. anti-bullying

19. relevant reports

20. complying with

1. дотримування (чогось)

2. встановлювати та підтримувати позитивні стосунки з засудженими підчас роботи

3. співчуття

4. вирішувати проблеми

5. здатність швидко реагувати

6. важливі звіти

7. ризик заподіяння шкоди собі

8. бути обізнаним

9. вести записи щодо підлеглих

10. допомога засудженим

11. засуджені особи

12. заохочення в’язнів до того, що є для них найкращим

13. супроводження в’язнів за межі в’язниці

14. дії проти залякування

15. обмежувати дії

16. уразливі категорії засуджених

17. збалансоване керівництво

18. безпечне та здорове оточення

19. допомога засудженим в перегляді вироку

20. працювати разом

Ex. 4. Answer the following questions.

1. Who can become a prison office in England and Wales?

2. What tests must all applicants pass?

3. What stages does the application process include?

4. What skills should prison officers have?

5. Who are the main employers of prison officers in the UK?

6. When were privately managed prisons introduced to the UK?

7. How are private prisons governed?

8. What responsibilities does a prison officer have?

9. What influences the aspects of the work of prison officers?

10. What activities does their typical work include?