The COVID-19 Pandemic and the Safety of Prison Officers and Inmates – Changes and Risks

Abstract

The aim of this article is to discuss the concept of security in the context of Prison Service officers and inmates, as well as to perceive and present the changes that had to be introduced in prisons due to the epidemic situation, and to describe the security risks (of the above-mentioned entities) caused by coronavirus in prisons. Taking certain measures to maintain the current level of security, both for Prison Service officers and inmates, was in a way forced by the pandemic. The article aims to show answers to the following questions: Has the pandemic affected the visits of loved ones and how? Have the measures needed to maintain hygiene by prisoners been increased and what measures have been taken? Has the pandemic affected the employment of detainees and how? Were there any limitations related to the classes conducted for inmates and what difficulties did the practitioners have to face? Do prisoners have
a right to pray? Were prisoners involved in pro-social work related to the pandemic? The basic research method to achieve the above-mentioned objectives is the analysis of the literature and available source materials on the subject of generally understood security, as well as issues related to the security of officers and inmates in prisons during the COVID-19 pandemic.