Secondary education (Prison Officers), University degree (Technical and probation staff)
2) What is the minimum – maximum age of trainees?
21 (Prison officers) - 28 (Prison officers)
3) Which tests are included in the recruitment assessment?
Physical
Yes
Psychological/Personality
Yes
Language
No
Other
Ohter mandatoty conditions are:
Absence of criminal record;
National mandatory vaccination program;
1,60mt for female and 1,65mt for male candidates;
To have Portuguese nationality (exception for International convention).
INITIAL/BASIC TRAINING
Length of initial/basic training of prison officer? (*see definition)
1) Excluding in-service training
20 weeks (theory and practical training)
2) Including in-service training
How many weeks class room?
20 weeks (5 month period)
How many weeks practical prison work?
16 weeks (4 month period)
3) Is the initial/basic training accredited?
No
4) EQF level of initial/basic training
5) What are the subjects that are trained at the initial/basic level?
The job description of the Prison officer, Organic organization of the Prison and probation system, deontology, Prison intelligence, Electronic surveillance, weapons training, interpersonal relations and Dynamic security, criminology, health care, mental disease, physical training and Personal defense.
The training also includes:
Penal end prison legislation;
Human rights;
English language;
Communication
Dynamic security
IT tools and computer skills
Security, video surveillance and telecommunications;
Personal defense;
Operational technics on prison order, searching, body search and protection/escort technics;
Job hygiene and safety;
Health, transmissible diseases and first aid;
Psychopathology;
Criminology;
Prisoner's criminal profiles;
Prison and prison sentences history.
6) What does final exam contain?
The evaluation is based on a formula that contains written tests results on each subject matter, practical testes on the security related subject matters (Personal defense, prison order / riot control, escort tactics, etc.) and the "attitude evaluation" done by the Training tutors during the 9 month course (based on the overall relational and on-job capabilities of the candidate).
7) What type of exam?
Written,Practical
CONTINUOUS TRAINING
1) Is continuous training obligatory?
Yes
2) If yes, which modules are obligatory?
Every year each Prison officer must have Weapons training and complete an shooting exercise. In addition to this there is a continuous training package for prison officers and other prison staff covering several themes such as:
IT tools and computer skills;
Penal and prison legislation;
Specific themes (criminal problem programs, racial and gender violence, domestic violence, etc.);
Health care;
Etc.
There is also a specific training program for prison officers called "Security area decentralized training program", that focus on mandatory continuous training in Riot control, search procedures, escort tactics, personal defense and reports/legislation updates.
Attachments
* Definition of a prison officer:
Responsible for safety and security as well as prisoner rehabilitation. promote social behavior and address the offending behavior of prisoners. A prison officer belongs to a public service body.
European Penitentiary 
