“When officers use their authority well, legitimately and carefully, every outcome is improved: suicide, disorder, violence, political charge, and even prisoner’s future.”
– Professor Alison Liebling
PROJECT PRISGRADS
PROJECT PRISGRADS
Who is working on it?
PRISGRADS is an Erasmus+ -funded KA210-VET – Small-scale partnership in vocational education and training between RICHTUNGSWECHSEL, INTERCHANGE (DE) and CPIP (RO). This project actively supports the Pact for Skills ‘Liberate Skills’ and its pledge to increase the professionalisation of correctional staff. Evidenced by Unlocked Graduates, the project maps the potential for innovation in vocational training by introducing university graduates to the prison service and providing opportunities in leadership and development through prison staff mentoring.
Project ID: 2023-2-AT01-KA210-VET-000175776 PRISGRADS
Learn more about our
Effective prison officers are extremely skilled professionals who protect and rehabilitate some of the most vulnerable and damaged people in our society. According to Penal Reform International (2023) staff shortages and high staff turnover are a continuous problem faced by prison systems around the world. The lack of staff causes major disruption in the prison regimes and poorer conditions inevitably leading to further problems for staff and incarcerated individuals.
Internationally, responses to staff crises have been short termed, such as filling gaps through military services or civil servants. In their report on prisons and detention conditions in the EU, the European Parliament discusses guidelines regarding recruitment, selection, education, training and professional development of prison and probation staff (2019). Despite these guidelines, there are no compliance measures monitoring staffing at an EU level, due to prison services being exclusively regulated by Member States. However, the high staff shortages and turnover faced across the continent and their interdependence with poor prison conditions and outcomes undermine the fundamental EU values and principles on which judicial cooperation on criminal matters is based. Whilst we see that increased salaries and improved employment conditions are insufficient in supporting recruitment and retention of good prison staff, we also note that there are pockets of new initatives across Europe, and see evidence that a small culture change within prison systems can trigger big changes. Such an example is the Unlocked Graduates Programme, a leadership scheme recruiting outstanding university graduates into the prison service as frontline officers – having placed over 700 officers in prisons in England & Wales since 2017. Thereby, Unlocked raised the status of working in the prison service and raised awareness of the prison officer role in reducing reoffending – a one-of-its-kind approach and part of the solution to the prison staff crisis. We see an urgent need for prison systems in Europe to learn such effective good practice from one another.
All activities in this project are thus geared towards collecting and sharing evidence of other such effective graduate recruitment practice. The private sector invests heavily in graduate recruitment, on-boarding and mentoring graduates. In funding PRISGRADS, the EU provides a plaform to level the playing field in adapting vocational recruitment and training to prison officers’ reality. This small change could help tackle the EU prison staff turnover and recruitment crisis, and promote fundamental human rights based principles of prison. The project aims to provide an insight into how prison services, as employers, undertake an organised programme to attract and employ students who are going on to complete different forms of education. We will also look at key competences for graduates identified by prison administrations and how their recruitment process filters these skills during recruitment and initial training.
Stay Connected on LinkedIn:
We’ll share updates and exciting content about our seminars and the PRISGRADS project. Be part of the conversation—join our PRISGRADS LinkedIn group if you haven’t already:
OUR CONTRIBUTORS
Center for Promoting Lifelong Learning (CPIP)
CPIP is a non-governmental, non-profit organization dedicated to advancing lifelong learning and social engagement. By fostering community involvement, CPIP supports a culture of continuous education and promotes its core values across diverse, multicultural communities. The center offers counseling, training, and organizes a variety of workshops and seminars, both locally and internationally. CPIP also develops innovative projects on educational and social issues, co-funded by the European Commission, to enrich cultural and educational experiences.
Virtual PRISGRADS Seminar
We are thrilled to announce that our next virtual PRISGRADS seminar will take place on January 29th, 2025!
This seminar offers a unique opportunity to engage in international discussions and gain valuable insights into updates from the PRISGRADS project.
Seminar Overview:
Time: 10:00–13:00 (CET)
Location: Online
Preliminary Agenda:
- 10:00–11:00: Keynote and expert contributions
- 11:00–12:00: Project updates, presentations, next steps, and group work
- 12:00–13:00: Networking opportunity and virtual marketplace
Let’s continue working together to build something truly impactful!
We can’t wait to see you there!
Sign up here: https://shorturl.at/kf0mX
Can’t attend the full seminar? No problem—feel free to join partially!
PRISGRADS In-Person Workshop: Prison Staff Recruitment, Training, and Professional Development
We are excited to announce that the PRISGRADS In-Person Workshop on prison staff recruitment, training, and professional development will take place in Vienna (Austria) from 12th to 14th November 2024.
Workshop Overview:
The PRISGRADS team is excited to host an exclusive in-person workshop focusing on the recruitment, training, and professional development of prison staff. This three-day event will gather professionals from across Europe to explore advanced strategies and innovative practices in these critical areas.
Participants will engage with experts on various topics including staff wellbeing, cutting-edge training methodologies, and professional growth. The workshop will also feature visits to the training academy and an Austrian prison facility, providing an opportunity to observe and exchange with Austrian prison service staff.
Key Highlights:
- Interactive sessions with European professionals
- Insights into innovative training programmes
- Visits to key facilities in Austria
Participation Details:
As this workshop is invite-only, we are not able to accommodate public registrations. However, we welcome expressions of interest and are happy to provide updates on this and future events. For more information or to inquire about potential participation, please contact us at prisgradsproject@richtungswechsel.or.at.
Participation Details:
As this workshop is invite-only, we are not able to accommodate public registrations. However, we welcome expressions of interest and are happy to provide updates on this and future events. For more information or to inquire about potential participation, please contact us at prisgradsproject@richtungswechsel.or.at.
PRISGRADS News and Inspiring Practices in Graduate Recriutment and Retention
A key focus of this project is addressing one of the identified gaps in the field: the lack of shared knowledge and exchange of successful practices in graduate recruitment and retention among correctional administrations.
Too often, prison administrations operate in isolation, unaware of the innovative or inspiring approaches that have proven successful elsewhere. This project seeks to close that gap by fostering the exchange of good, current, and inspiring practices. By creating a platform for collaboration and knowledge-sharing, we aim to build stronger connections between correctional institutions and provide opportunities to learn from each other’s success stories.
Through this initiative, we empower prison administrations to adopt strategies that enhance graduate recruitment and retention, contributing to a more dynamic and sustainable correctional service across regions.
Please visit this page for the materials developed within the project.
PRISGRADS PROJECT
We are delighted to announce our virtual workshops on the 8th (English), 9th (German), and 10th (Romanian) of October at 13.00-15.00 CEST respectively 🗺️ together with our partners CPIP Romania – Centrul pentru Promovarea Invatarii Permanente, Daiana Huber, Andrada Safta, Alexandru Ursulescu & Rhianon Williams 🥳
Please find the event flyers attached including the links for registration! 🎯
👮🏾♂️👮🏽♀️👮🏼🌍
Tamara Höfer Gabi Gőbl Gabriela Machado Klara Blomberg Viktoria Reigl
PRISGRADS In-Person Workshop
PRISGRADS In-Person Workshop: Prison Staff Recruitment, Training, and Professional Development
We are excited to announce that the PRISGRADS In-Person Workshop on prison staff recruitment, training, and professional development will take place in Vienna, Austria, from 12th to 14th November 2024.
Workshop Overview:
The PRISGRADS team is excited to host an exclusive in-person workshop focusing on the recruitment, training, and professional development of prison staff. This three-day event will gather professionals from across Europe to explore advanced strategies and innovative practices in these critical areas.
Participants will engage with experts on various topics including staff wellbeing, cutting-edge training methodologies, and professional growth. The workshop will also feature visits to the training academy and an Austrian prison facility, providing an opportunity to observe and exchange with Austrian prison service staff.
Key Highlights:
- Interactive sessions with European professionals
- Insights into innovative training programs
- Visits to key facilities in Austria
Participation Details:
As this workshop is invite-only, we are not able to accommodate public registrations. However, we welcome expressions of interest and are happy to provide updates on this and future events. For more information or to inquire about potential participation, please contact us at prisgradsproject@richtungswechsel.or.at.
Participation Details:
As this workshop is invite-only, we are not able to accommodate public registrations. However, we welcome expressions of interest and are happy to provide updates on this and future events. For more information or to inquire about potential participation, please contact us at prisgradsproject@richtungswechsel.or.at.
PRISGRADS Country Workshops
Upcoming PRISGRADS Country Workshops: Engaging Higher Education Graduates in the Prison Service
Dates & Languages:
8th October (English)
9th October (German)
10th October (Romanian)
Time: 13:00 – 15:00 CEST
Format: Online
ROM: https://form.jotform.com/242623114119346
To stay up-to-date:
Contact: prisgrads@richtungswechsel.or.at or visit our Contact Page
Dates & Languages:
8th October (English)
9th October (German)
10th October (Romanian)
Time: 13:00 – 15:00 CEST
Format: Online
ROM: https://form.jotform.com/242623114119346
To stay up-to-date:
Contact: prisgrads@richtungswechsel.or.at or visit our Contact Page
Agenda Highlights
- Innovative Recruitment Practices
- Mentoring Schemes for Prison Staff
- Group Discussions on recruitment challenges & future opportunities
- Networking with a wide range of experts
Why Join?
Take the chance to shape the future of European prison services!
Engage with peers across Europe, learn about innovative recruitment and mentoring strategies like the Unlocked Graduates programme, and collaborate on solutions to modern challenges. Your input will directly influence future policies and strategies to enhance staff recruitment and retention across transnational prison services.
Be part of the change – join us to build the next generation of prison professionals!
PROJECT INTRODUCTION PRISGRADS
📣 PROJEKTVORSTELLUNG // PROJECT INTRODUCTION 📣
(scroll for 🇬🇧)
🇦🇹 Diesen Montag möchten wir euch unser Projekt PRISGRADS vorstellen und folgende Fragen beantworten:
🤔 Was ist PRISGRADS?
👩🏽💻 Was machen wir?
🚨 Warum ist es wichtig?
🔒Treten Sie der PRISGRADS LinkedIn-Gruppe bei! 🔒
Arbeiten Sie in europäischen Justizvollzugsanstalten und sind an Personalrekrutierung und -entwicklung interessiert? 🤔
⬇️⬇️⬇️
📲 Erfahren Sie mehr: https://lnkd.in/dhraAvgW und vernetzen Sie sich mit uns in dieser Gruppe oder besuchen Sie unsere Website: https://lnkd.in/dgMqYsnM
Lassen Sie uns eine stärkere Zukunft aufbauen! 💬🔗
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🇬🇧 This Monday, we would like to introduce you to our Project PRISGRADS and answer the following questions:
🤔 What is PRISGRADS?
👩🏽💻 What do we do?
🚨 Why is it important?
🔒 Join the PRISGRADS LinkedIn Group! 🔒
Working in European prisons and interested in staff recruitment and development? 🤔
⬇️⬇️⬇️
📲 Find out more: https://lnkd.in/dhraAvgW and connect with us in this group or check out our website: https://lnkd.in/dgMqYsnM
Let’s build a stronger future! 💬🔗
🇪🇺 PRISGRADS ist gefördert von der Europäischen Union.
🇪🇺 PRISGRADS is funded by the European Union.
Join the PRISGRADS LinkedIn Group!
🔒 Treten Sie der PRISGRADS LinkedIn-Gruppe bei! 🔒
Arbeiten Sie in europäischen Gefängnissen und interessieren Sie sich für die Rekrutierung und Entwicklung von Personal? 🤔 Welche innovativen Strategien setzt Ihr Gefängnis ein, um uniformiertes Personal zu rekrutieren, auszubilden und zu motivieren? Wie passen Sie sich an die neuen Herausforderungen auf dem lokalen Arbeitsmarkt an?
PRISGRADS, eine Erasmus+ Small Scale Partnership für berufliche Bildung, lädt Sie ein, unserer privaten LinkedIn-Gruppe beizutreten! 🚀 Dieser Raum ist dem Austausch und der Meinungsaustausch über die Rekrutierung, Ausbildung und berufliche Entwicklung von Gefängnispersonal gewidmet. Lassen Sie uns zusammenarbeiten, um das Wohlbefinden der Mitarbeiter zu fördern, die Bindung zu fördern und unsere Rehabilitationsmission voranzutreiben.
✨ Was Sie erwartet:
– Einblicke und Diskussionen zu innovativen Rekrutierungsstrategien
– Gemeinsame Erfahrungen und Interviews zu effektiven Trainingsprogrammen
– Ideen zur beruflichen Weiterentwicklung zur Steigerung der Mitarbeitermotivation
– Vernetzungsmöglichkeiten mit Strafvollzugsfachleuten in ganz Europa
Bitte füllen Sie auch unsere Umfrage zur Kartierung der Rekrutierung, Schulung und Betreuung von Hochschulabsolventen aus: https://lnkd.in/d2Ew2RkS
Gemeinsam können wir neue, standardisierte und transnationale Ansätze entwickeln, um gemeinsame Rekrutierungsherausforderungen anzugehen. 🌍
📲 Erfahren Sie mehr: https://lnkd.in/dEtkqkbn und vernetzen Sie sich mit uns in dieser Gruppe oder per E-Mail an prisgradsproject@richtungswechsel.or.at.
Lassen Sie uns eine stärkere Zukunft für Europas Strafvollzug schaffen! 💬🔗
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🔒 Join the PRISGRADS LinkedIn Group! 🔒
Working in European prisons and interested in staff recruitment and development? 🤔 What innovative strategies is your prison using to recruit, train, and motivate uniformed staff? How are you adapting to new challenges within your local labor market realities?
PRISGRADS, an Erasmus+ Vocational Education Small Scale Partnership, invites you to join our private LinkedIn group! 🚀 This space is dedicated to sharing and exchanging ideas on recruitment, training, and professional development of prison staff. Let’s collaborate to promote staff wellbeing, encourage retention, and advance our rehabilitative mission.
✨ What to Expect:
– Insights and discussions on innovative recruitment strategies
– Shared experiences and interviews on effective training programs
– Ideas for professional development to enhance staff motivation
– Networking opportunities with prison professionals across Europe
Please also fill in our survey on mapping recruitment, training, and mentoring of graduate staff: https://lnkd.in/d2Ew2RkS
Together, we can develop new, standardized, and transnational approaches to address common recruitment challenges. 🌍
📲 Find out more: https://lnkd.in/dEtkqkbn and connect with us in this group or via email at prisgradsproject@richtungswechsel.or.at.
Let’s build a stronger future for Europe’s prison services! 💬🔗
Rhianon Williams Alexandru Ursulescu Richtungswechsel – AT
HashtagPrisonReform HashtagStaffRecruitment HashtagProfessionalDevelopment HashtagPRISGRADS HashtagErasmusPlus
