PO 21_European Prison Officers for the 21st Century

In the EU, there are more than 588 940 citizens imprisoned. Every day, more than 203 772 prison officers (PO) work to ensure safety to society and to provide inmates with opportunities that ease their reintegration process back to society. In fact, particularly in the last decades, prison officers’ role has changed, evolving from o strictly security-oriented role (ensuring security, order, physical integrity, and respect) to a combination of custodial and treatment functions. In this context, the PO21_European Prison Officers for the 21st Century project is developing a strategic approach to skills development, identifying existing and emerging skills needs, strengthening the exchange of knowledge and practice, promoting relevant qualifications and supporting their recognition, adapting vocational education and training (VET) to skills needs, promoting qualification standards for work-based learning and planning the progressive roll-out of the project among prison officers. A particular focus is given to digital skills as they are increasingly important to Prison Officers.During the first half of the project, DACUM workshops took place in the partner countries, a European Survey to prison officers was developed and collected, to date, 300 answers and desk research was performed, collecting data from 21 countries in Europe regarding PO’s training. Together, the three mentioned research activities (DACUM workshops, survey and desk research) allowed the project partners to have a clear picture of the current and future role of PO in partner countries and adapt the curriculum proposal to those needs. Therefore, the developed work will ensure the successful development of a training curricula that will be piloted and fine-tuned during the second half of the project. Additionally, the collected data is integral to the recommendation paper for re-thinking prison officers’ training that is being developed.