Prison Governor
Encyclopedia
In the UK
, a Prison Governor
is responsible for the management and security of a prison, jail, remand centre and young offenders' institution. In India
and Pakistan
, the head of a District, Central, Women or special Prison/Jail is called Superintendent of Jail, Superintendent Jail, Senior Superintendent of Jail or Senior Superintendent Jail, depending upon the size and area of responsibility/jurisdiction of the prison. In Sri Lanka
, Superintendent is a rank in the Department of Prisons
, who would head a prison.
Governors' work may involve supervising security, making inspections, carrying out disciplinary procedures, writing reports and liaising with other professional staff who visit the prison, such as medical staff, probation
officers, and social workers. Other responsibilities include training, working on admissions, and sitting on parole boards.
Prison governors might also work in national headquarters or have responsibility for training other staff at prison service colleges.
Governors also attend meetings, courses and conferences outside the prison.
, and Northern Ireland
. In addition, there are a number of private or contracted out prisons which do not have governors, but have a Director instead. The Director of a private prison
is assisted by a 'Controller', appointed by the Home Office
.
Entry and training varies between these services. Prospective governors would need to pass medical, eyesight and fitness tests, and should be a UK citizen or EU national and be prepared to relocate if necessary.
In England and Wales there are two main routes into becoming a prison governor. The first is for existing staff to move up through the ranks (from being a prison officer
, for example, or to move across from other management roles.
The second route is through the Prison Service Intensive Development Scheme (IDS) and is only open to those holding degrees. Applicants are selected based on experience and psychometric and written tests. With this scheme it is possible to reach senior management in less than five years rather than the usual average twenty years.
In Scotland
, there are two ways to enter. This is again through promotion from prison officer
ranks or through direct entry. Direct entry applicants usually need a degree and substantial management experience.
Entry to governor jobs is competitive, by whichever route. In England and Wales graduate vacancies are advertised each year (usually October) in the national press. Opportunities for direct entry in Scotland are advertised in both the Scottish and national press.
In Northern Ireland staff levels are reducing so entry is more difficult.
The companies that run private prison establishments each have their own entry requirements and recruitment methods.
Experienced managers are encouraged on the direct entry schemes. Relevant experience in the armed forces or police is considered useful. The upper age limit for prison governor entry is 57.
The next progression is to trainee operations manager, speed of this progression is determined by individual ability. At each stage you will sit exams at an assessment centre and be supported by mentors and a structured training programme.
In Scotland direct entrants follow a two year Individual Management Development Programme, working in prisons as unit managers while training.
The number of prison governors has remained stable in recent years in England and Wales. Scotland has seen a slight increase. The Northern Ireland Prison Service has been reducing the number of staff in recent years and does not expect to be recruiting in the near future.
Prisons are located all over the country in rural and urban areas. Male and female prisoners are usually housed separately. Governors and operational managers can be posted to any establishment in the country.
Movement from one job to another is on merit by local selection. Staff moving into senior posts must first pass a job simulation assessment.
An experienced governor can work at headquarters, prison service colleges or training units. Senior governors can have responsibility for several prisons.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
, a Prison Governor
Prison Governor
In the UK, a Prison Governor is responsible for the management and security of a prison, jail, remand centre and young offenders' institution. In India and Pakistan, the head of a District, Central, Women or special Prison/Jail is called Superintendent of Jail, Superintendent Jail, Senior...
is responsible for the management and security of a prison, jail, remand centre and young offenders' institution. In India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
and Pakistan
Pakistan
Pakistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan is a sovereign state in South Asia. It has a coastline along the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman in the south and is bordered by Afghanistan and Iran in the west, India in the east and China in the far northeast. In the north, Tajikistan...
, the head of a District, Central, Women or special Prison/Jail is called Superintendent of Jail, Superintendent Jail, Senior Superintendent of Jail or Senior Superintendent Jail, depending upon the size and area of responsibility/jurisdiction of the prison. In Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka, officially the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka is a country off the southern coast of the Indian subcontinent. Known until 1972 as Ceylon , Sri Lanka is an island surrounded by the Indian Ocean, the Gulf of Mannar and the Palk Strait, and lies in the vicinity of India and the...
, Superintendent is a rank in the Department of Prisons
Department of Prisons (Sri Lanka)
The Department of Prisons is a non-ministerial government department in Sri Lanka responsible for the incarceration and rehabilitation of convicted criminal offenders and terror suspects in Sri Lanka, it comes under purview of the Ministry of Justice and Law Reforms...
, who would head a prison.
The role
The work varies according to the size and type of establishment. Establishments range from high security prisons holding category A prisoners to open prisons for category D prisoners. In most prisons there are several governors on different grades responsible for different areas of the prison's management.Governors' work may involve supervising security, making inspections, carrying out disciplinary procedures, writing reports and liaising with other professional staff who visit the prison, such as medical staff, probation
Probation
Probation literally means testing of behaviour or abilities. In a legal sense, an offender on probation is ordered to follow certain conditions set forth by the court, often under the supervision of a probation officer...
officers, and social workers. Other responsibilities include training, working on admissions, and sitting on parole boards.
Prison governors might also work in national headquarters or have responsibility for training other staff at prison service colleges.
Hours and environment
Hours of work are variable, and can be long with no additional payment for extra hours. They may include evenings and weekends, but work at night is less common. The work is mainly indoors within the prison. Prison buildings vary from modern to very old and overcrowded, although most older prisons have now been refurbished.Governors also attend meetings, courses and conferences outside the prison.
Skills and interests
Prison governors should:- be able to work well with a variety of other people
- have good written and spoken communication skills
- care about prisoners’ welfare and be sympathetic to their problems
- be self confident and able to lead both staff and prisoners
- be able to cope with pressure and enforce discipline
- be able to handle difficult situations.
Recruitment
There are three separate prison services covering England and Wales, ScotlandScottish Prison Service
The Scottish Prison Service is an executive agency of the Scottish Government tasked with managing prisons in Scotland...
, and Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland is one of the four countries of the United Kingdom. Situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, it shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west...
. In addition, there are a number of private or contracted out prisons which do not have governors, but have a Director instead. The Director of a private prison
Private prison
A private prison, jail, or detention center is a place in which individuals are physically confined or interned by a third party that is contracted by a government agency...
is assisted by a 'Controller', appointed by the Home Office
Home Office
The Home Office is the United Kingdom government department responsible for immigration control, security, and order. As such it is responsible for the police, UK Border Agency, and the Security Service . It is also in charge of government policy on security-related issues such as drugs,...
.
Entry and training varies between these services. Prospective governors would need to pass medical, eyesight and fitness tests, and should be a UK citizen or EU national and be prepared to relocate if necessary.
In England and Wales there are two main routes into becoming a prison governor. The first is for existing staff to move up through the ranks (from being a prison officer
Prison officer
A prison officer , also referred to as a corrections officer , correctional officer , or detention officer , is a person charged with the responsibility of the supervision, safety and security of prisoners in a prison, jail, or similar form of secure...
, for example, or to move across from other management roles.
The second route is through the Prison Service Intensive Development Scheme (IDS) and is only open to those holding degrees. Applicants are selected based on experience and psychometric and written tests. With this scheme it is possible to reach senior management in less than five years rather than the usual average twenty years.
In Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
, there are two ways to enter. This is again through promotion from prison officer
Prison officer
A prison officer , also referred to as a corrections officer , correctional officer , or detention officer , is a person charged with the responsibility of the supervision, safety and security of prisoners in a prison, jail, or similar form of secure...
ranks or through direct entry. Direct entry applicants usually need a degree and substantial management experience.
Entry to governor jobs is competitive, by whichever route. In England and Wales graduate vacancies are advertised each year (usually October) in the national press. Opportunities for direct entry in Scotland are advertised in both the Scottish and national press.
In Northern Ireland staff levels are reducing so entry is more difficult.
The companies that run private prison establishments each have their own entry requirements and recruitment methods.
Experienced managers are encouraged on the direct entry schemes. Relevant experience in the armed forces or police is considered useful. The upper age limit for prison governor entry is 57.
Training
Training is tailored to individual needs, depending on previous experience. In England and Wales graduates on the IDS undertake basic prison officer training over the first few weeks, split between a prison establishment and the Prison Service College, followed by up to twelve months as a uniformed prison officer, then progressing to senior officer with responsibility for a group of staff. During training the governor will take up posts in different prisons at different senior grades.The next progression is to trainee operations manager, speed of this progression is determined by individual ability. At each stage you will sit exams at an assessment centre and be supported by mentors and a structured training programme.
In Scotland direct entrants follow a two year Individual Management Development Programme, working in prisons as unit managers while training.
Opportunities
There are currently 139 operational prisons in England and Wales, 16 in Scotland and three in Northern Ireland.The number of prison governors has remained stable in recent years in England and Wales. Scotland has seen a slight increase. The Northern Ireland Prison Service has been reducing the number of staff in recent years and does not expect to be recruiting in the near future.
Prisons are located all over the country in rural and urban areas. Male and female prisoners are usually housed separately. Governors and operational managers can be posted to any establishment in the country.
Movement from one job to another is on merit by local selection. Staff moving into senior posts must first pass a job simulation assessment.
An experienced governor can work at headquarters, prison service colleges or training units. Senior governors can have responsibility for several prisons.
See also
- HM Prison Service
- Scottish Prison ServiceScottish Prison ServiceThe Scottish Prison Service is an executive agency of the Scottish Government tasked with managing prisons in Scotland...
- Private prisons
- List of prisons in the United Kingdom