Prison Scenario Test Back to top TOP This is a series of example scenarios to give you an idea of the situations you might be faced with when working in a prison environment. It also gives you the chance to practice for the first stage of the assessment process! In each question you are asked to select the most likely course of action you would take. Please note that this does not form part of the assessment process and you will be provided with feedback for each response you select. In many of these situations, there is more than one course of appropriate action and it requires fine judgement to decide what to do. We have made recommendations on each scenario on how you should respond. Example scenario 1You are locking up cells at night-time when one prisoner tells you he needs to borrow a book from another prisoner. You have to make sure everyone is locked up in the next two minutes and the other prisoner's cell is 5 or 6 doors down the corridor. He is pleading with you, saying it won't take him long and that he has to have the book.What would you do? Tell the prisoner he has had plenty of time and shut the cell door so that he cannot speak to you anymore. Refuse the request and explain to the prisoner that you have to get everyone locked up on time. Allow the prisoner to go and get the book on the condition that he is back in one minute. Correct! You should explain your reasons but be clear on the expectations.Be careful – it is important to establish trust with prisoners but do not allow them to take this too far. Try again.This is not a good idea – it could potentially make the situation worse and adversely affect the prison environment. Try again.Example scenario 2You are just finishing a day shift when you come across a prisoner who begins a conversation with you. Although she does not seem to be visibly upset, she tells you how unhappy she is, using phrases like "my life is worthless" and "I don't know what to do". You know this prisoner does not get on well with some of the other officers and you have a good rapport with her.What would you do? Stay with the prisoner as long as it takes until you are satisfied her issues have been resolved. Fill in a document monitoring those at risk of self-harm and speak to a staff member coming on duty about your conversation. Listen for a few minutes and then promise to continue the conversation when you are back on shift the next day. There are better options here. At the end of a shift you should feel able to leave confident that a situation will be dealt with. Try again.Correct! It’s important to follow due process but try to consider who is best to speak to in these circumstances.Example scenario 3It’s Sunday and you have a busy week coming up. You have a master’s assignment deadline on Friday and the Governor has asked you to take the lead on a new project to improve wellbeing of prisoners on your wing, which is being launched on Wednesday. You also have long shifts at work on Wednesday and Thursday.What would you do? Ask for an assignment extension due to work Speak to your mentor to get some advice on managing your time and see where you can get some support from colleagues Put the wellbeing project off until next week so you can focus on your assignment Try again. This should be a last resort!Correct! We always want to encourage you to use the support around you to achieve your goals.This isn’t ideal. You want to make sure you keep to the commitments of your role.Congratulations you have reached the end of the test! You should now have a better idea of the types of situations that prison officers face, the variety that the job offers and the skills that you can build in this role. 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