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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). (RECVI = Extreme Risk of Institutional Violent Behaviour)
Between 2017 and 2022, Catalan prisons experienced a rise in violent incidents, particularly against staff. According to a 2024 study by the CEJFE (Centre for Legal Studies and Specialised Training), 32% of incidents involved inmate-on-staff or inmate-on-inmate violence. Traditional measures such as disciplinary sanctions, isolation regimes, and mechanical restraints were no longer effective in managing high-risk individuals.
Launched in 2024 by the Government of Catalonia under Agreement GOV/210/2023, the RECVI Programme (Extreme Risk of Institutional Violent Behaviour) introduced a new model for intervention.
Core Elements:
Multidisciplinary RECVI Teams in 8 prisons: psychologists, social educators, and trained security staff.
Two levels of intervention:
PREVIN: Early detection and preventive work with high-risk individuals.
RECVI: Full intervention for inmates with a proven record of extreme violence.
Longitudinal monitoring across modules and sentence progression.
Central oversight by the Permanent Commission (CRECVI).
SIPC (Catalan Prison Information System): A centralised database for tracking disciplinary reports, incidents, behavioural history, and treatment records.
RisCanvi (Risk Assessment and Change Monitoring Tool): Used to identify high-risk inmates, particularly those showing tendencies toward self-harm or aggression.
Specialised Training: All professionals assigned to RECVI teams receive targeted, ongoing training in behavioural risk assessment, crisis intervention, and trauma-informed approaches, coordinated by the CEJFE and other specialised agencies.
Note: The statistical outcomes below refer exclusively to the subset of inmates officially enrolled in the RECVI Programme (n = 84), and not to the general prison population.
After the first year of implementation:
Aggressions Against Staff:
Serious assaults reduced by 63%
Minor assaults reduced by 74%
Number of violent inmates reduced from 16 to 6
Disciplinary Incidents:
Total disciplinary reports dropped from 1,065 to 517
Disciplinary Proceedings for serious offences (e.g. assaulting staff) dropped by over 56%
Reduction in Mechanical Restraints:
From 147 incidents (pre-RECVI) to 34 post-intervention (−76%)
Decrease in Isolation Regime Usage:
13.7% reduction in inmates held in closed regimes (from 60% to 46.3%)
Overall Incident Reduction:
Total incidents: −46%
Self-harm/suicidal behaviour: −44.4%
Fires: −69.2%
By reducing violence and improving early detection and targeted intervention, the RECVI Programme has directly improved:
Staff physical safety and morale
Institutional climate and trust in preventive models
Coordination between teams (security, health, rehabilitation)
Psychological support post-assault
Prevention works: Investing in early detection (PREVIN) prevents escalation.
Specialised teams with protected time and cross-functional training are key to addressing high-complexity inmates.
Clear governance structures (CRECVI) improve case consistency and decision-making.
Monitoring impact through data (e.g. Prison Information System, ‘Risk and Change’ Tool (a structured professional judgment tool used in Catalan prisons), Disciplinary Proceeding tracking) is essential for adjusting interventions.
The RECVI Programme demonstrates that with the right structure, training, and commitment, extreme institutional violence can be significantly reduced, improving both staff wellbeing and inmate outcomes.
Note: For more information, refer to the full RECVI Framework Document and the 2025 Evaluation Report.