All Inmates have the opportunity to get the personal attention of a prison staff. This is called contact-service arrangement. As a contact officer, you have a special Responsibility to guide and motivate the Inmates to stay incarcerated is so meaningful, awareness and rehabilitation as possible. Through daily contact and follow-up you're going to be an important part of the Inmates daily, both as a conversation partner, role model and guide.

As a prison officer you will meet people that challenge, provoke, touch and engage you. Some have committed serious crimes, some are struggling with mental illness, behavior problems or adjustment problems. Their behavior will influence to shape your daily life. Work days will be marked by the security thinking and boundaries, the guard duties, visitation joner and conflict resolution. You must be comfortable to cope with crisis situations and physical risks, threats and verbal acting out - sometimes from the same people you might otherwise participate in recreational activities with, organizer of social events for or as the supervisor of different life mastering and awareness programs.

That is why your professional role is so complex and complicated. Working in prison is about control, power and boundaries, but also about the Closeness and Openness. You have to understand situations, find solutions and thus make necessary provisions so that the Inmates themselves can take responsibility for their own lives.

Is it surprising we call it a varied and challenging profession?