Prison officers working in the Basque penitentiaries

• In Event: The Basque prison model: achievements and pending challenges

Abstract

The lack of staff and their working conditions have been the most critical issues in the Basque penitentiary reality since the devolution of the prison management to the Basque Government by the end of 2021. Many prison officers came to the Basque Country lured by possible improvements in their working conditions and salaries. Providing prison officers with the necessary human and material resources to carry out their work in optimal conditions is, indeed, an ongoing priority. As the motivation of prison officers directly influences prisoners, the supportive and caring roles of the former and the pro-social view that they can radiate on the latter have an enormous impact on prison life and the path towards reintegration.
With all the above in mind, an attempt has been made to explain the profile of the prison officers who agreed to participate in the study, shedding light on their needs and expectations. The conducted research will offer an empirical approach to the working life of prison officers in the Basque Country's three prison centres. As we will see, there was also some reluctance on the part of some prison officers to participate in the study, which explains the small final sample obtained about this group. At the same time, we will mention the complaints and demands voiced by those finally interviewed. To design appropriate prison policies, it is necessary to understand the reality of prisons and their problems, and this cannot be done without considering the point of view of prison officers.

Author

• Iñigo Gordon Benito, UNESCO Chair for Human Rights and Public Authorities, University of the Basque Country