PWG - Job differentiation and work climate in Belgian prisons

• In Event: PWG - Correctional staff and institutional culture

Abstract

The law of March 23, 2019, introduces a new method of surveillance in Belgian prisons, known as job differentiation. This approach distinguishes between 'detention counsellors,' who are responsible for guiding imprisoned people, and 'security assistants,' who handle security tasks. This method has not yet been fully implemented across all Belgian prisons.

As part of an evaluation study, research is being conducted on the work climate for penitentiary staff and the prison climate for imprisoned people in two prisons with job differentiation and two comparison prisons without job differentiation. This presentation focuses on the work climate of staff in both types of prisons. A new survey was developed based on literature and Think Aloud interviews to measure the work climate of prison officers. The survey was subsequently administered online to penitentiary staff.

This presentation will share the initial research findings on the work climate in the context of job differentiation. The research started in November 2023 and will continue until December 2025.

Authors

• Elien Goossens, National Institute of Criminalistics and Criminology

• Elodie Schils, NICC - National Institute of Criminalistics and Criminology

• Luc Robert, INCC - Institut National de Criminalistique et de Criminologie

• Eric Maes, INCC - Institut National de Criminalistique et de Criminologie