The case in summary * A recent report shows that one in four correctional staff has feared for their own life at work. Seven out of ten have been afraid at work. • Violence in the prisons is increasing sharply, at the same time that NOK 122 million is being cut from national budgets.• The prison in Froland will cut its operating budget by NOK 70–80 million, compared to the 2020/2021 level, when the prison opened.• The report shows that many employees have experienced violence, threats and serious injuries among the inmates.• The Directorate of Correctional Services, which commissioned the report, has established a working group to work further with the results of the report. – It is very serious. Constantly going to work with the risk of violence, threats, spitting and situations of self-harm is stressful, says Ole Gunnar Selås. He is the leader of the Norwegian Prison and Probation Association (NFF) in Agder. Selås says employees in Agder prison are increasingly experiencing violence and threats at work. Leader of the Norwegian Prison and Probation Association (NFF) in Agder, Ole Gunnar Selås. Photo: Espen Bierud / news – So far this year, we have exceeded 100 deviations related to violence or threats of violence, says Selås. That corresponds to more than doubling compared to the figures for the whole of 2022. There are still two months left of 2023. – So we are heading for a gloomy record at the turn of the year, says Selås. Agder Prison – Froland is Norway’s newest prison. Photo: Tom-Richard Hanssen Olsen The prison in Froland is scheduled to cut its operating budget by NOK 70-80 million compared to the years 2020/21. news wrote this week about inmates who fear the consequences of the cuts. – There are many people who are tired and have psychological problems. People I talk to have suicidal thoughts. And it gets worse and worse. Life is terrible right now, one of the inmates told news. New report Rambøll commissioned by the Directorate of Correctional Services (KDI) carried out a survey of psychological stress reactions among current and former employees in the correctional service. This is what the report shows: One in four (26%) say in the survey that they have felt the fear of death or danger in connection with an incident. They have experienced the fear either one or more times. Almost one in three has experienced that a colleague has been seriously injured (28%). Director of the Directorate of Correctional Services, Lise Sannerud, sees a development: – It is obvious that many of the employees of the Correctional Service are in a very demanding situation. We have seen in recent years that the proportion of inmates and convicts with serious mental disorders has increased sharply. Lise Sannerud is director of the Directorate of Correctional Services. Photo: Paal Espen Hambre / Directorate of Correctional Services Sannerud also points to increased use of home detention. Previously, several people with milder sentences were locked up in Norwegian prisons. Several of these serve time with anklets at home instead. – A larger proportion of inmates today have been convicted of more serious crimes, says Sannerud. 1,746 current and 323 former employees of the correctional service have responded to the survey. The report paints a gloomy picture of working conditions: 56 per cent have experienced violent use of force between inmates and convicts. 48 per cent have also experienced that an inmate or convict has been seriously injured. 66 percent respond that they have experienced or witnessed an inmate or convict commit suicide or attempt to take their own life. 39 per cent have experienced finding an inmate or convict dead. 52 percent have been afraid several times. 70 percent respond that they have experienced threats. Sannerud says they have established a working group which will work further with the results of the report. – The Rambøll report was commissioned by the Directorate of Correctional Services (KDI), and it is a good starting point for further work to improve the situation. To save 122 million Main protection representative for the employees in Froland, Harald Hervik, says it will be very difficult to run the prison in the future. – We are now experiencing so many cuts that we do not have the chance to run a full-fledged offer for the inmates in relation to all the intentions we have within the inmates. Chief safety representative for the employees in Froland, Harald Hervik. Photo: Espen Bierud / news Ole Gunnar Selås in the NFF believes the cuts will mean far fewer colleagues at work. He fears for the health of employees. – We believe the situation is critical in relation to staffing. It is cut to the bone. Sign at the main entrance to Froland prison. Photo: Espen Bierud / news Lise Sannerud admits that the situation is demanding, but blames the Storting. – The financial situation in the correctional service is very demanding at all levels in the agency. Over the course of the year, approx. NOK 122 million. As of now, the agency is ready to manage this. The Prison Service’s budget is adopted by the Storting, as part of the national budget. Selås hopes the authorities will intervene soon. – It is absolutely necessary to have sustainable staffing and an increase in resources to reduce the risk of psychological strain injuries for security personnel in correctional services. Agder prison department Froland has some of the most modern prison facilities in the country.
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One in four correctional officers have feared for their lives at work – news Sørlandet – Local news, TV and radio
