Applicants' Day in Neustrelitz: Bright spot in the prison's staff shortage?

Applicants' Day in Neustrelitz: Bright spot in the prison's staff shortage?

A breath of fresh air swept through the corridors of the Neustrelitz JVA today: an applicant day took place for the first time, and 15 motivated young interested parties got a taste of everyday working life in the prison system. How NDR reports, the participants should not only get to know the structures of the correctional facility, but also experience practical insights into the service. Among other things, they were able to carry out a cell check for prohibited items, try on an armored vest and try out putting on ankle shackles. A very special highlight was the tour of the workshops that the prisoners use for wood and metal work and painting.

But while the applicant day presents itself as positive, there are signs of a serious challenge behind the scenes. In the next few years, the facilities are threatened with a staff shortage as many employees are retiring. This creates worry lines for those responsible. The Federal Association of Prison Officers (BSBD) is sounding the alarm. Like from one Report to the world As can be seen, there are around 2,000 positions in the correctional system nationwide that are unfilled. The situation in German prisons is tense. The lack of staff puts a lot of strain on the remaining employees and at the same time endangers security within the institutions.

Challenges in the correctional system

Given the current conditions, it is no wonder that the job as a correctional officer is attracting fewer and fewer young people. The ratio between staff and inmates varies greatly between federal states. In Saxony, for example, 63 employees look after 100 inmates, while in North Rhine-Westphalia there are only 44 and in Baden-Württemberg there are only 36 employees per 100 inmates. A Report from the Tagesschau mentions that the increasing number of mentally ill prisoners makes work even more difficult. Especially in the Münster prison, the officials are confronted with an increasingly challenging situation, where every second prisoner is a foreigner and the problems are piling up.

Another key concern is maintaining the value of jobs in the correctional system. Many federal states are trying to increase wages for candidates and newcomers in order to make the profession more attractive. In Berlin, for example, the minimum score in the recruitment test was reduced because the number of applicants has fallen significantly in recent years. But reducing requirements carries risks, as René Müller, chairman of the BSBD, points out: “There could be security problems here if the requirements are too low.”

A call to promote young talent

The dilemma is also reflected in the registration letters for training courses. In Berlin, two courses could not start due to a lack of applications, while in Bremen there are still enough suitable candidates. Against this background, the applicant day in Neustrelitz is not only an opportunity for potential new employees, but also a necessary step to combat the impending staff shortage and promote the attractiveness of the profession.

With this initiative, the JVA Neustrelitz has not only repositioned itself as a training facility, but is also setting an example in a resilient professional field that is characterized by quality and commitment. It remains interesting to see how the number of applicants will develop in the coming months and whether such events can help alleviate the staff shortage in the prison system in the long term.