This chapter is based on the experiences of both authors as part of a multi-disciplinary team of academics who brought changes to the prison system in the Republic of Ireland by leading an academic training program for recruit corrections officers in that country's prison system. The goal was to improve the professional performance of the corrections officers and to increase their understandings of the significance of human rights and prisoner's rights as a key part of their daily work practices. The award-winning recruit prison officer training program was the first of its kind globally.
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This chapter will outline the planning, processes, challenges and successes of a unique and innovative teaching and training program for over 1000 recruits entering the Irish Prison Service (IPS), which took place in the Republic of Ireland between 2008 and 2013. The program was known as the Higher Certificate in Custodial Care (HCCC). Essentially, this program combined the expertise of academics from that nation’s Universities and the Irish Institutes of Technology sector and blended this with traditional prison training practices of Chief Officers of the IPS. By combining both academic and practical teaching, learning and mentoring, the program set out to extend the scope of knowledge, competence and professionalism of recruits to Ireland’s national prison service. The chapter explores the planning and implementation of this innovative educational and training program, from development to delivery, through to the national recognition for the program from the National Academy for the Integration of Research, Teaching and Learning (NAIRTL) educational award to its educators in 2012.
The issue of prisoner’s rights and access to justice has a long and contentious history in most jurisdictions. The Republic of Ireland has had a long tradition of problems within its prison system1. According to Leonard (2011, p.3.):
The issue of imprisonment in Ireland has traditionally been problematic for a number of reasons, including Ireland’s colonial past and the struggle for Independence from British rule in both jurisdictions. This led, in turn, to the use (and abuse) of imprisonment by forces opposed to the independence project. Thus, a sentimental residue of tacit opposition to the prison system has remained a salient characteristic of contemporary Irish life. Essentially, the prevailing system of justice (and the prison system in particular) became a symbol of injustice and oppression throughout the history of British rule for Irish nationalists in either jurisdiction2.
Therefore, we can see the conflict between the Irish authorities and the prisoner population as having political, historical and cultural aspects, in addition to the existence of complex issues within the criminal justice system for prisoners, particularly when it comes to rights and social justice. For many, the provision of rights and justice for prisoners was the duty and responsibility of the prison officers in the Irish system, many of whom had traditionally received a traditional basic training, focused on security issues rather than rights. Over a period of decades and in response to international covenants and obligations, the Irish Prison Service were required to reform their approach to training by collaborating with academics to implement a more comprehensive and rights based training and development program. The result was the introduction of the HCCC program for new recruits to the IPS3.
The Higher Certificate in Custodial Care (HCCC) training and education program was an innovative approach to teaching corrections officers about rights and justice while they trained as recruits to a national prison service. It combined new departures in teaching recruit prison officers (RPOs) to recognize, appreciate and value the rights of those in their care in Ireland’s prisons. The program has been recognized to be one of excellence and innovation in teaching, learning and research in higher education. The academics who devised and delivered the program were comprised of experts from across the spectrum of social sciences. While these disciplines each had their own emphasis, the presentation of different, though complementary, social science and health-related disciplines collectively provided a high quality, learner-centred blended educational experience informed by contemporary research4.
The IPS programme was notable for its success in building correction officers’ understanding of concepts of rights and justice through disciplines such as sociology, criminology and psychology. Many of the recruit officers had only experience of second level education, therefore program was devised with a focus on delivering rights-based competencies and knowledge. Furthermore, the IPS program was planned in a deliberate way, which would develop the officers' critical thinking, knowledge and skills. Ultimately, the goal was to create a sea of change in the thinking and approach of Ireland’s correctional staff to the understanding of prisoners’ rights, and to professionalize the prison service in a progressive manner for the benefit of both staff, prisoners and wider society.