- History
- Goal
- Organs
- Financing
Key events in the creation and development of the Swiss Prison Staff Training Centre1. History
1973: The central committee of the Swiss association for prison reform and its patrons empower a working group to assess the possibility of creating a vocational training school specialising in enforcing prison sentences and therapeutic measures. 1974: The working group submits its report and a draft study programme. 1976:
The draft study programme and the founding act are adopted by the CCDJP (the conference of directors of cantonal justice and police departments). 1977:
10 February: the founding act is signed by the Federal Councillor, the director of the Federal Justice and Police Department, the president of the cantonal conference of justice and police directors and the three presidents of the Concordats (inter-cantonal agreement) on the enforcement of criminal sentences and therapeutic measures. 1987: Revision of the founding act. 1995:
The revision of the study programme is finalised. The basic course is prolonged from 12 to 15 weeks; the training lasts two years in all. At the end of the second year, participants write a final dissertation. 1997:
After 20 years of decentralisation, where it operated out of its offices in Berne, the Training Centre moves early 1997 into its own quarters in Fribourg. The town was chosen for its bilingualism (German and French) and its symbolic relevance for Switzerland’s German-, French- and Italian-speaking regions. For the first time since the Centre’s creation, the classrooms, apartments and administrative offices are under the same roof. 2001:
The Training Centre negotiates with the Federal Office for Professional Education and Technology for the recognition of its basic training course. 2002: Federal Councillor Pascal Couchepin signs the rules governing the vocational exam for prison officers. 2004: The first class sits the final exam set according to the new rules. More than 800 participants also receive their federal certificates retroactively.
2006: The CCDJP signs a contract with the Head of the Centre. 2007: Mr. Ulrich Luginbühl, previously Director of St Jean, takes over the Management of the Centre.
top of page 2. GoalArticle 1 of the founding act stipulates that “the aim of the foundation is to offer persons whose profession is to enforce adult prison sentences and therapeutic measures,
the theoretical and practical vocational education and further training they need.”
3. OrgansThe school Council: The president of the Council is Mr. Jean Studer, State Councillor of the Canton of Neuchatel. Other members include representatives of the directors of the cantonal departments of justice and police, a representative of the Confederation, prison directors and representatives of prison staff and the medical and scientific
community. The Council defines guidelines and training objectives. The school Committee, whose president is Mr. Robert Frauchiger, Argovia, implements Council guidelines and prepares administrative matters. The Director of the Swiss Prison Staff Training Centre in Fribourg is Mr. Ulrich Hans Luginbühl. The Vice-Director is Mr. Karl Heinz Vogt. The Director’s office
consists of: Ms. Ariane Senn, bachelor of law, manager for French- and Italian-speaking continuing training, Ms. Maria-Theresa de Agazio, bachelor of law and criminology, manager for basic courses in French and Italian, Ms. Regine Schneeberger, bachelor of letters, manager for basic courses in German, Ms. Barbara Bradi, responsible for administration.
4. FinancingThe Swiss cantons finance the Training Centre according to the total number
of days of detention in their prisons. Their contributions are used to organise courses and finance participants’ accommodation and board.
top of page The Swiss Prison Staff Training Centre in FribourgThe Training Centre is located in Fribourg on the 4th floor of the “Centre quartier Beauregard”. It includes the
reception, administrative offices and training rooms. The cafeteria is located on the ground floor. In the same complex, participants share double room accommodation. top of page Training offerOur tasks are the - basic training for Swiss prison staff / obtaining a federal diploma
- organisation of continuing education and graduate training, included for judicial authorities and the probation services
- organisation of Penitentiary conferences in Fribourg in collaboration with the Fribourg University
a) Basic courseThe Swiss Training Centre provides basic training for Swiss prison staff. After they have been recruited staff usually receive at least six months practical in-house training. They are then given theoretical training (15
weeks over a two-year period) at the Fribourg Training Centre. Once they have passed the final exam, candidates receive a degree (federal certificate) and are authorised to use the title “prison officer”.
1st yearMainly practical trainingFirst prison work experience Introduction Practical work “Learning by doing” First in-house training and/or theoretical training by Canton (introduction) Coaching by course
instructor | 2nd yearMainly theoretical trainingCoaching by course instructor 9 weeks =
3 x 2 weeks
1 x 3 weeks Curriculum:
Psychology
Law
Medicine and psychiatry
Prison environment Intermediary exam | 3rd yearMainly theoretical trainingTheoretical training (cont’d) 6 weeks =
3 x 2 weeks Teaching in different subjects Visit several establishments Write dissertation
Final exam |
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b) Continuing educationIt is essential that prison staff constantly upgrade and improve their knowledge. The Swiss Training Centre offers a large choice of further training. The following courses aim at developing and perfecting the knowledge and skills acquired during the basic training course: - Managing violent situations
- Preventing suicide
-
Providing a social and professional environment for prisoners
- Management training (3 weeks)
- Handling prisoners with psychiatric disorders (3-days training)
- Handling prisoners with psychiatric disorders (special 7-week training consisting of 4 weeks of theory and 3 weeks of practical work in a psychiatric hospital)
Most of the training courses take place at the Löwenberg Training Centre
in Morat, as the Fribourg Centre is occupied almost all year round for the basic courses.
c) Seminars and special eventsIn addition to basic and further education courses, the Swiss Prison Staff Training Centre offers seminars and organises special events: Seminars for - Members of the CSED (Swiss Prison Conference)
- Managers and staff of cantonal services responsible for enforcing
criminal sentences and therapeutic measures / cantonal prison services
- Probationary staff
- Prison medical staff
- Swiss association of prison chaplains
- Staff enforcing “semi-liberty” schemes
- Managers of prison farmland
- Training Centre instructors
- Internship supervisors (coaching of basic course participants)
Events-
Fribourg prison days organised jointly with Fribourg University.
1998: Reform of the law on sanctions
2000: Medicine and detention
2002: Staff enforcing sanctions: missions? challenges?
2004: Enforcing sanctions: the individual plan
2006: Prison – asylum: managing prisoners suffering from psychiatric disorders - Foreign study tours for prison directors
d) Higher vocational education and training
During the session it held on 4 December 2006, the school Council gave the management of the Swiss Prison Staff Training Centre the mandate to set up a commission to study the creation of an exam of higher vocational education and training. The following persons accepted to work with the commission: Mr. N. Queloz, Professor, Fribourg Universiy
Mr. S. Aeby, Director of the Plaine de l’Orbe prison
Mr. M. Albisetti, Judge responsible for enforcing criminal sanctions in the
Canton of Ticino
Mr. G. Hablützel, Head of the higher prison authority of the Canton of Zurich.
Mr. J. Keel, Co-Secretary of the Concordat (inter-cantonal agreement) for Western Switzerland
Mr. H. Nuoffer, Secretary of the Concordat (inter-cantonal agreement) for French- and Italian-speaking Switzerland
Mr. W. Troxler, Head of the section for the enforcement of sentences and therapeutic measures, Federal Justice Office
Mr. HP. Uster, former State Councillor of the Canton of Zug
Mr. U. Luginbühl, Director, Swiss Prison Staff Training Centre
Ms. A. Senn and Mr. K.H. Vogt (assessor status with no voting rights) The commission will define training objectives, the subjects to be taught and the topics of the federal exam of higher vocational education and training. top of page | 
