Promoting professionalPrison Practice.
Prison staff carries out an important public service and their recruitment, training and conditions of work shall enable them to maintain high standards in their care of prisoners. The right persons, appropriate training and good leadership create the foundation for decent and humane prisons and a safe working environment. Staff is also facilitating reintegration and can often be the promotor for change. Staff is one of the most valuable assets to a prison agency. The word ”staff” is mentioned 189 times in the European Prison Rules. In these rules it is stated that: “When selecting new staff the prison authorities shall place great emphasis on the need for integrity, humanity, professional capacity and personal suitability for the complex work that they will be required to do. Before entering into duty, staff shall be given a course of training in their general and specific duties and be required to pass theoretical and practical tests.”
