Training prison staff in Serbia: a key to reform
Background
For 15 years, the friendly advice of senior staff was the only way for young prison warders to learn how to do their jobs. An OSCE assessment found that no formal training for recruits had been provided, compromising the efficiency of the prison system and the overall treatment of inmates.
To jump-start the process of reform, the OSCE Mission developed a prison training programme, part of an overall strategy of prison reform set out in 2001. In the short-term, the Mission has been delivering basic training modules to prison security guards. To date, some 500 senior staff and new recruits have participated. The long-term goal, however, is to help the Serbian Ministry of Justice establish its own Prison Training Academy.
Training the trainers
Investing in local skills and tapping the existing potential within the prison system is a guiding principle of the training programme. To this end, two international experts from Canada and Sweden ran a "Training for Trainers" programme, facilitated by the OSCE Mission. Twelve prison educators and six guards selected by the Ministry of Justice have completed the module so far.
The Prison Administration Department can now count on a group of skilled and enthusiastic trainers with expertise in adult-learning techniques. Each trainer has already conducted the training programme at least four times.
"Investing in local human resources guarantees sustainability of the programme," said Livio Sarandrea, Legal Advisor for human rights and prison reform in the OSCE Mission. "People who have undergone our training for trainers are a valuable resource in which the Ministry of Justice should keep investing. They could be the future trainers of the Serbian Prison Training Academy."
Motivating prison staff
Interest in the programme has grown rapidly among prison managers and participants alike. The training modules developed by the OSCE Mission cover subjects such as drug identification, effective communication, work ethics, human rights, suicide and self-injurious behaviour, use of force and working in a diverse environment.
Word has spread quickly from prison to prison about the usefulness of the training, and all prison governors not yet involved have expressed a strong interest in future training activities.
"Every week, we witness among participants their initial scepticism growing into genuine enthusiasm," said Dragan Kostic, Trainer and Prison Officer in Sremska Mitrovica Prison. "It's rewarding to watch our efforts produce a positive impact, not only on the ability of the staff to conduct their job more professionally, but also on their overall motivation."
Southern Serbia and beyond
The OSCE Mission recently opened up the general training programme for prison staff to southern Serbia. All staff members of the Vranje Prison, which is in an area where 25 per cent of the inhabitants are ethnic Albanians, participated in a two-week training course. For the first time, a group of local trainers served as instructors without the assistance of an international trainer - with success.
It will take some time to establish a self-sustainable training academy. But the positive experience in Vranje shows that the Serbian Justice Ministry is well on its way to taking over full responsibility for prison staff training. In the meantime, the Mission will carry on with training activities run jointly with the Ministry to maintain the momentum.
For 15 years, the friendly advice of senior staff was the only way for young prison warders to learn how to do their jobs. An OSCE assessment found that no formal training for recruits had been provided, compromising the efficiency of the prison system and the overall treatment of inmates.
To jump-start the process of reform, the OSCE Mission developed a prison training programme, part of an overall strategy of prison reform set out in 2001. In the short-term, the Mission has been delivering basic training modules to prison security guards. To date, some 500 senior staff and new recruits have participated. The long-term goal, however, is to help the Serbian Ministry of Justice establish its own Prison Training Academy.
Training the trainers
Investing in local skills and tapping the existing potential within the prison system is a guiding principle of the training programme. To this end, two international experts from Canada and Sweden ran a "Training for Trainers" programme, facilitated by the OSCE Mission. Twelve prison educators and six guards selected by the Ministry of Justice have completed the module so far.
The Prison Administration Department can now count on a group of skilled and enthusiastic trainers with expertise in adult-learning techniques. Each trainer has already conducted the training programme at least four times.
"Investing in local human resources guarantees sustainability of the programme," said Livio Sarandrea, Legal Advisor for human rights and prison reform in the OSCE Mission. "People who have undergone our training for trainers are a valuable resource in which the Ministry of Justice should keep investing. They could be the future trainers of the Serbian Prison Training Academy."
Motivating prison staff
Interest in the programme has grown rapidly among prison managers and participants alike. The training modules developed by the OSCE Mission cover subjects such as drug identification, effective communication, work ethics, human rights, suicide and self-injurious behaviour, use of force and working in a diverse environment.
Word has spread quickly from prison to prison about the usefulness of the training, and all prison governors not yet involved have expressed a strong interest in future training activities.
"Every week, we witness among participants their initial scepticism growing into genuine enthusiasm," said Dragan Kostic, Trainer and Prison Officer in Sremska Mitrovica Prison. "It's rewarding to watch our efforts produce a positive impact, not only on the ability of the staff to conduct their job more professionally, but also on their overall motivation."
Southern Serbia and beyond
The OSCE Mission recently opened up the general training programme for prison staff to southern Serbia. All staff members of the Vranje Prison, which is in an area where 25 per cent of the inhabitants are ethnic Albanians, participated in a two-week training course. For the first time, a group of local trainers served as instructors without the assistance of an international trainer - with success.
It will take some time to establish a self-sustainable training academy. But the positive experience in Vranje shows that the Serbian Justice Ministry is well on its way to taking over full responsibility for prison staff training. In the meantime, the Mission will carry on with training activities run jointly with the Ministry to maintain the momentum.