Tuesday’s operation against alleged corruption by prison officers at Haren Prison in Brussels comes as no surprise to the Ghent University (UGent) criminologist Jelle Janssens. Dr Janssens says that prison staff are put under pressure by some criminals, for example, show prisons guards photographs of family members in order to make them comply with their demands. Both he and the Federal Justice Minister Annelies Verlinden (Flemish Christian democrat) say that prison officers deserve better protection.
On Tuesday the prosecutor’s office carried out an operation in which inmates and prison staff at Haren Prison were arrested as part of an ongoing investigation into corruption in prisons. The inmates allegedly were continuing their criminal activities from their cells, while the prison staff allegedly had aided and abetted them to do so. It is possible that prison staff have smuggled mobile phones and drugs into prison for convicted drug lords. But if this is the case why would they risk their job, their reputation and a criminal conviction?
Dr Janssens told VRT Radio 1’s morning news and current affairs programme ‘De ochtend’ that "Often this is not because they have been tempted (by easy money), but because they have been put under pressure”.
"Sometimes a prison officer is suddenly shown a photograph of a family member or their child on the way to school by a prisoner. The prisoner can then threaten the prison officer that non-compliance will have consequences for their family”.
The Federal Justice Minister Annelies Verlinden (Flemish Christian democrat also recognises that this is an issue.
Improved security for prison officers
Ms Verlinden recognises the need to protect prison staff. She told ‘De ochtend’ that “One of the ideas being considered is to make improvement to way in which prison officers’ personal data is protected. In the digital world data protection is important".
Dr Janssens proposes offering prison officers more support. “Not by providing buddy to work with during their shifts, but also with a buddy they can talk to about any issue and that can offer them support.” He believes that this could be achieved by the installation of a hotline where prison guards could anonymously get any issues or concerns off their chest.
Ms Verlinden is keen to stress that there are reporting options already in place. “I can only urge people to actually report things. It’s only when we know where we need to take action that changes be made. Placing people in special regimes, rotating prisoners so that the same prison officers are not always dealing with the same prisoners are only possible if we know that it is necessary”.
Send in the army?
On the subject of sending the army into our prisons Dr Janssens says that this isn’t the best option. “The role of a prison office is to keep violence to a minimum. The role of a soldier is to maximise violence. This requires completely different training. I do not think it's a good idea in the long term.”
“Moreover, soldiers can also be pressured and bribed. Their data is more difficult to trace, but there is no guarantee.”
It might be useful as a short-term emergency solution, but not in the long term, Dr Janssens says.