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The Catalan Prison System employs approximately 6,000 staff members. It comprises 9 prisons and 4 open centres across Catalonia, with around 9,000 individuals in custody (2025).
In the complex environment of Catalan prisons, staff are routinely exposed to high-pressure situations, including incidents of violence, mental health crises, and disruptive inmate behaviour. This exposure not only affects security, but also contributes to stress, burnout, and long-term psychological impacts among correctional staff.
Team Composition: Each USI (Internal Support Unit) is composed of senior security officers (usually deputy heads of security), staff with extensive institutional knowledge, and professionals trained in de-escalation, crisis intervention, and mental health.
Dynamic Deployment: Teams intervene directly in modules or units with elevated risk or complexity, including closed-regime wings (DERT), medicalised units, and inmates under disciplinary procedures.
Case Monitoring and Analysis: USI members track the behaviour of high-risk inmates, propose management strategies, and collaborate with the broader institutional framework.
Support to Frontline Staff: USIs offer coaching, incident review, and emotional containment after critical events.
The Unitats de Suport Interior (USI) — or Internal Support Units — were established as an organisational response to strengthen support for staff and improve incident management. These units were designed to provide on-site, specialised, cross-disciplinary support in managing high-complexity inmates and critical incidents.
Core Objectives:
Reinforce the institutional response to violent or unstable inmates.
Reduce the emotional and physical burden on frontline staff.
Act as a reference and liaison for complex case management.
Improve the coordination between intervention, rehabilitation, and security functions.
Incident Logs and Case Reports: Used to evaluate and share insights on inmate behaviour.
Coordination with RECVI (Extreme Risk of Institutional Violent Behaviour) and PREVIN (Early detection and preventive work) teams: Ensures consistent handling of violent or complex profiles.
Specialised Training: USI personnel receive targeted training in advanced behavioural assessment, legal protocols, and staff wellbeing.
Note: While a formal evaluation is pending, early reports indicate improved incident handling and increased staff satisfaction in centres where USIs are active.
Operational Benefits
Faster and more coordinated responses to inmate crises.
Better data collection and communication with central prison management.
Strategic reduction in unnecessary mechanical restraints or isolations.
Staff Wellbeing Improvements
Increased confidence in managing high-risk situations.
Greater psychological support and post-incident debriefing.
Reinforcement of institutional cohesion and peer trust.
Creating dedicated, trained support units enhances institutional resilience.
Formal recognition of internal knowledge improves morale and legitimacy.
Cross-disciplinary coordination is key to sustainable violence prevention.
The creation of dedicated Internal Support Units (USIs) improves staff safety and wellbeing by providing structured, immediate intervention in high-risk incidents.
Cross-functional collaboration between security, rehabilitation, and intervention teams enhances institutional capacity to manage complex inmate behaviour.
Investing in specialised training and staff development strengthens the resilience and confidence of frontline personnel.
USIs contribute to a culture of emotional support and reflective practice, especially through post-incident debriefing and follow-up.
Recognising institutional knowledge and leadership among experienced staff supports organisational cohesion and improves decision-making in critical contexts.
Note: The USI initiative is detailed in the “2023 Justification Report for Staff Support Measures in Prisons” by the Generalitat de Catalunya.