Lost your Password?
Click Here
Don't have an account?
Register Here
Welcome to the EuroPris Knowledge Management System. The table below shows questions and responses from European National Agencies. Select a question for more information or use the filters on the left to narrow down questions based on Agency or Category.
Want to ask a question? Please read our guidance information found here: Submitting a KMS Question
← Back Search KMSThis content is only available to registered members of EuroPris.
Introduction: The Custodial Institutions Agency (DJI) from the Netherlands is very interested in the ratio of the number of inmates in comparison to the number of custodians. Especially custodians dealing with the prisoners on the ward themselves and whose work is solely dedicated to their custody. The questionnaire SPACE I provides us with some information regarding this theme, but the group of custodians in SPACE I also includes for instance security and perimeter guards. The DJI has a target ratio of 24 prisoners (on the ward, not locked in their cells) to 2 custodians guarding and dealing with prisoners themselves in regular regimes (excluding security, perimeter guards, people guiding prisoners during their entry in prison or in the workrooms). In order to get a better idea of the ratio in other countries and to get an idea of the comparability, the DJI would like to receive answers to the following questions.
2018 2,10 ratio inmate/officer 2019 2,06 ratio inmate/officer
If you define ‘custodial staff’ in a different way (than the description given in question 1), what kind of staff do the ‘custodians’ include exactly in your prison service?Same as before. We have a general ratio.
Do you use other kinds of ratios for the number of prisoners in comparison to the number of staff and are they with or without targets?Same as before.
How many hours does the daily program of detainees in a regular regime in a closed prison have? How many hours are they outside their cells on a daily basis in such a regime?In ordanary regime, the aim is that prisoners stay outside their cells as much as possible, participating in different activities. In close regime, outside hours are two or three, depending on the risk of each inmate.
What activities are specifically included in the work of a custodian (as described in question 1 or 2), besides keeping an eye on the prisoners and locking them in and out?Officers do not transport inmates. In Spain, they develope observation activities, meaning interior security but with treatment impact. Their point of view has impact in the decissions taken in relation with the evolution of inmates.
Can you think of any other factor that influences the given ratios in comparison to the other prison services?The meaning of ratios depends a lot on the services given by the prison and those externalised.
NIPS generally operate a ratio of between 1-15 and 1-25 for staff working directly with prisoners Though there are exceptions for prisoners who require a higher level of supervision due to control issues or risk of escape. There is no annual monitoring of this ratio it is considered during staffing reviews when they take place.
If you define ‘custodial staff’ in a different way (than the description given in question 1), what kind of staff do the ‘custodians’ include exactly in your prison service?The above figure is for staff directly supervising prisoners in a residential unit
Do you use other kinds of ratios for the number of prisoners in comparison to the number of staff and are they with or without targets?These ratios are not generally monitored but a change can be agreed short term to address a particular problem that arises
How many hours does the daily program of detainees in a regular regime in a closed prison have? How many hours are they outside their cells on a daily basis in such a regime?Generally residential units are unlocked at 08.15 locked again at 12.30 unlocked at 13.45 locked again at 19.00 or 19.30 Mon-Fri, 08.45 locked again at 12.30 unlocked at 13.45 locked again at 17.45 Sat + Sun. Some prisoners are unlocked throughout these periods while some others will spend time in their cells depending on which Residential unit they are living in
What activities are specifically included in the work of a custodian (as described in question 1 or 2), besides keeping an eye on the prisoners and locking them in and out?Any member of staff detailed to a residential area will work directly with the prisoners throughout the day supervising behaviour ensuring they are safe have their meals and attend activities as scheduled. The same members of staff can work in other areas on different days. We have a separate grade of staff who are responsible for moving prisoners between prisons
Can you think of any other factor that influences the given ratios in comparison to the other prison services?We have a specific ratio for staff who work with prisoners who have connection with paramilitary organisations.
Swedish prison services have no absolute number of custodians. The number varies depending on the security class of the prison and type of clients.
If you define ‘custodial staff’ in a different way (than the description given in question 1), what kind of staff do the ‘custodians’ include exactly in your prison service? Do you use other kinds of ratios for the number of prisoners in comparison to the number of staff and are they with or without targets? How many hours does the daily program of detainees in a regular regime in a closed prison have? How many hours are they outside their cells on a daily basis in such a regime?There is an obligation to employ in Swedish institutions. Clients should be employed for about 6 hours a day. Unlocking takes place at 8 in the morning. Lock-in takes place at 8 o'clock in the evening.
What activities are specifically included in the work of a custodian (as described in question 1 or 2), besides keeping an eye on the prisoners and locking them in and out?In Sweden there is a special transport unit that transports clients between prisons and e.g. trial.
Can you think of any other factor that influences the given ratios in comparison to the other prison services?No, we don’t have a specific target for the ratio of prisoners. In 2018, on an early shift for example, we had 27 guards on a department and we had a daily average of 610 prisoners (for a whole year). That would be a ratio of 22,5 prisoners for each guard. In 2019, on an early shift for example, we had 27 guards on a department and we had a daily average of 609 prisoners (for a whole year). That would be a ratio of 22,5 prisoners for each guard.
If you define ‘custodial staff’ in a different way (than the description given in question 1), what kind of staff do the ‘custodians’ include exactly in your prison service?Also here we don’t have a specific target for the ratio of prisoners and we don’t have the results for 2018. In 2019, we had 89 guards in the morning (not only on a department but in the whole prison) for 609 detainees. That would be a ratio of 6,84 detainees for each guard.
Do you use other kinds of ratios for the number of prisoners in comparison to the number of staff and are they with or without targets?/
How many hours does the daily program of detainees in a regular regime in a closed prison have? How many hours are they outside their cells on a daily basis in such a regime?For the duration of the open doors, it depends if it is a department for accused or for sentenced prisoners. The defendants in cellular mode have their doors opened for 3 to 4 hours a day. The defendants in community living and also the sentenced prisoners have the doors opened for a maximum of 7,5 hours.
What activities are specifically included in the work of a custodian (as described in question 1 or 2), besides keeping an eye on the prisoners and locking them in and out?The tasks of a guard are open/close the cells, hand out the food, hand out the ordered food an hygiene articles, monitor the yard, deliver the mail, collect the mail, cells and body controls, bring the detainees to the Doctor, sports, school, visit.
Can you think of any other factor that influences the given ratios in comparison to the other prison services?/
LPA does not monitor this ratio.
If you define ‘custodial staff’ in a different way (than the description given in question 1), what kind of staff do the ‘custodians’ include exactly in your prison service?LPA does not monitor this ratio.
Do you use other kinds of ratios for the number of prisoners in comparison to the number of staff and are they with or without targets?LPA does not use ratios for the number of prisoners in comparison to the number of staff.
How many hours does the daily program of detainees in a regular regime in a closed prison have? How many hours are they outside their cells on a daily basis in such a regime?The detainee has the right to take a daily walk of not less than one hour (if there is relevant doctor's instruction – not less than one and a half hours). If a detained woman is in the remand prison with her child/children, her daily routine shall be adjusted to the needs of the child/children and shall include a walk of at least one and a half hours with the child. A juvenile detainee has the right to a daily walk of at least two hours. Walking areas for minors are arranged with equipment for active physical activities. A detainee has the right to attend educational and religious events or to meet with a chaplain individually. The detainee has the right to communicate with persons outside the remand prison by correspondence, as well as by using the remand prison phone (payphone) at least once a week. The call duration is at least five minutes. Expenses for correspondence shall be covered by the detainee, but for telephone conversations - by the detainee or the person with whom he or she talks. The detainee has the right to meet with relatives, spouses or other persons for at least one hour at least once a month to maintain family and kinship relations and to maintain and promote socially useful contacts, and to meet with a lawyer, but the foreigners - also with a representative of his or her diplomatic mission or consular post alone without restriction, following the agenda of the remand prison.
What activities are specifically included in the work of a custodian (as described in question 1 or 2), besides keeping an eye on the prisoners and locking them in and out?According with Section 10 Part 8 of the law "On Police" of the Republic of Latvia, in accordance with the tasks set for the police, the basic duties of a police officer, in conformity with the competence of the service, are to guard, convey and keep in custody arrested and detained persons, and within the scope of his or her competence to execute criminal sentences and administrative sanctions, as well as to convey and guard persons sentenced to deprivation of liberty in the performance of investigatory activities in relation to the adjudication of matters in a court and between places of imprisonment. Whereas, according with Section 22 Part 1 Clause 8 of the Prisons Administration Law, an official of the Latvian Prison Administration has a duty to ensure the transfer of prisoners to a medical institution outside the place of imprisonment for the receipt of health care services and the guarding of prisoners during the receipt of services, observing the Cabinet Regulation No.497 dated 25 August 2015 "Procedures for the Transfer and Security of a Convicted or Detained Person During the Receipt of Health Care Services in a Medical Institution Outside the Place of Imprisonment". Taking into account the above mentioned, officials of the Latvian Prison Administration transfer and guard prisoners in medical institutions outside the place of imprisonment.
Can you think of any other factor that influences the given ratios in comparison to the other prison services?N/A
Prison staff in Slovakia consist of staff of various professions. For treatment with inmates (e.g. carrying out education and edifying programs, social work, psychological services) are directly responsible the following specialists: case managers, special case managers, psychologists and social workers. The target ratio for these specialist staff is determined by a generally binding legal regulation (Decree of the Ministry of Justice of the Slovak Republic No. 368/2008, publishing the Order for serving the prison sentence, as amended) as follows: the case manager of the department organizes and ensures treatment in the group where is usually placed 35 convicts; in connection with juveniles, such group consists usually of 15 juvenile convicts. The case manager of the specialized unit ensures treatment in the group where is usually placed 20 convicts. Data as of 31 December 2018 – 8715 convicts; specialist staff ensuring treatment consisted of 286 case managers, 29 social workers and 55 psychologists. Data as of 31 December 2019 – 8979 convicts; specialist staff ensuring treatment consisted of 276 case managers, 33 social workers and 64 psychologists.
If you define ‘custodial staff’ in a different way (than the description given in question 1), what kind of staff do the ‘custodians’ include exactly in your prison service?In a broader sense, we include among the prison staff also other staff, as they are involved indirectly in the treatment process of inmates. These are staff ensuring regime activities (regime officers), staff ensuring guarding of inmates and prison premises, staff performing transfers of inmates between prisons (to hospitals, for court proceedings, etc.), medical staff, staff providing spiritual care (priests, pastors), as well as staff ensuring employment of convicts, catering and logistical services.
Do you use other kinds of ratios for the number of prisoners in comparison to the number of staff and are they with or without targets?-
How many hours does the daily program of detainees in a regular regime in a closed prison have? How many hours are they outside their cells on a daily basis in such a regime?Defining the time range of the daily program of convicts is complicated, given that the daily regime of convicts is influenced by various factors – work inclusion of inmates, participation in protective medical treatment, education, inclusion of convicts within the internal differentiation system and similar. Convicts accommodated in rooms are not locked within the prison unit and they can move freely outside their rooms (within the unit) without limitations. Convicts accommodated in cells are locked in their cells and they can move outside the cells at least during their one hour walks or during working activities or activities related to special treatment (participation in education and edifying programs, etc.).
What activities are specifically included in the work of a custodian (as described in question 1 or 2), besides keeping an eye on the prisoners and locking them in and out?Please, see answer to question no. 2
Can you think of any other factor that influences the given ratios in comparison to the other prison services?-
This content is only available to registered members of EuroPris.
This content is only available to registered members of EuroPris.
This content is only available to registered members of EuroPris.