Article 4: From Inmate to Resident; From Prison Guard to Personal Officer: New Opportunities for Detention Houses (ACJ17-A004)

 

With ‘detention houses’, the Belgian government introduces a small-scaled detention form, specifically for the execution of sentences up to 3 years. In the detention house, the autonomy of the resident is paramount. Different factors increase the level of trust and responsibility and seem to have a beneficial effect on the motivation of both residents and staff and contribute to a positive living environment. There is evidently also an emphasis on the integration of the detention house into the neighborhood. A key factor in the success of the detention houses is the introduction of the personal officer instead of the ‘classical’ prison officer. This facilitates the realisation of the principle of normalisation, autonomy and responsibility, rehabilitation, and reintegration. In a prison setting, the personal officer and security assistant work side by side and have complementary tasks and missions. In the detention house, however – because of their specific mission and approach – security and safety are guaranteed only by personal officers, there are no security assistants at work.

 

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