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What used to be the man with a bunch of keys is now the specialist judiciary who accompanies and looks after the prisoners.
Pascal Ernst works as a warden in the largest prison in Switzerland, the Pöschwies correctional facility in Regensdorf, Zurich. He eats lunch with the inmates, and in the evening he plays a game of billiards with them.
He also talks to the prisoners about personal things: “Many have little problem talking to us. This is also a sign of trust that they show us,” explains Ernst.
Legend:
Thick walls separate the prisoners in the Pöschwies prison from the outside world. In the largest prison in Switzerland, there are 376 places for delinquent men. They are cared for by more than 300 people.
Keystone/Ennio Leanza
Creating trust, building a relationship with the inmates. That’s part of the 35-year-old’s job. This proximity to the inmates increases security, says Pascal Ernst. If he knew how the inmate was doing, he could better assess whether a tricky situation could arise.
But the right amount is crucial. “It’s always a balancing act between too much and too little proximity. It has to be the right middle ground.” After all, he is not a social worker, but also responsible for law and order behind the prison walls.
Legend:
Pascal Ernst (35) is a qualified electrician. Three years ago he went to prison. He is currently still in training to become a so-called correctional specialist.
ZVG/Office for Correctional Services and Reintegration Canton Zurich
He unlocks the doors, searches the cells for drugs and prohibited devices. There are clear rules in the relationship. “We initial the inmates. There is no touching, no hugs and shaking hands only on special occasions,” explains Pascal Ernst. This way you can keep the necessary distance.
Of course, he knew the criminal history of the inmates. But the decisive factor is the human being, says Ernst. “These people were punished for their actions, that’s why they are with us.” The aim is that the detainees do not repeat their crime.
We greet the inmates. There is no touching, no hugs and shaking hands only on special occasions.
The prison warden’s job has changed dramatically. While it used to be the primary task of prison staff to guard inmates, today they accompany inmates on their way back to freedom. This change in the prison warden’s job description also reflects the direction in which penal institutions in Switzerland are developing.
From prison to rehabilitation center
The penal system in Switzerland is consistently geared towards reintegration. 99 percent of the prisoners are released. The Zurich Justice Director Jacqueline Fehr is therefore convinced: If the prisoner can be prepared for life after prison, that will create the greatest security for society. “We train the inmates to behave in ways that we expect from them outside the prison walls,” says government councilor Fehr.
Legend:
Jacqueline Fehr, the director of justice in Zurich, is convinced that the correct preparation of prisoners for the time after their imprisonment brings them the greatest security.
Keystone/Ennio Leanza
From penitentiary to reintegration center – this is how prisons in Switzerland are developing. A cultural change has taken place in the past few decades, says Patrick Cotti, director of the Swiss Competence Center for the Penal System.
strategy works
This change in the prison system has also reduced the recidivism rate, the risk that a prisoner will commit another crime after being released. Cotti refers to figures from the Federal Statistical Office. The recidivism rate is steadily declining, especially among violent offenders. “This also has to do with the fact that the institutions treat the inmates differently and have a different understanding of cooperation.”
Prison wardens like Pascal Ernst have to implement this culture change in their daily work. It is a demanding but exciting job, says Ernst. It needs a positive image of humanity. The belief that people can change.