Therefore, more employees will be a key issue for the party when negotiations on a new, multi-year agreement on the Danish Prison and Probation Service begin on Friday.
– It is crucial that we get the Danish Prison and Probation Service out of the death spiral it is in now, says the rapporteur and continues:
– The absolute biggest problem the Danish Prison and Probation Service has right now is that there are far too many inmates. More than we have seats for. And then hands are missing to a completely unheard of degree.
A large part of the problem is, according to SF, that the Folketing has for several years given more money to the police and has sharpened the penalties for a large number of crimes.
This has happened without giving more money to the courts and the prison system at the same time. They are therefore both under great pressure.
– There are a number of parties that are to blame for helping to collect the bill because we have raised the penalties for many years. This is something we need to address.
– It can not fit that we set aside a lot more money for the police, and when it comes to prisons, the government can not find a single penny. It is indecent, says SF’s legal spokesman.
Among other things, SF proposes that student salaries be given to people who are training to be prison officers. And reduces the number of inmates by working more on parole, foot shackles and, as something completely new, eviction prisons staffed by non-prison officers.
– Something needs to be done. In 2015, an officer took care of 1.4 prisoners. Today it is 2.1. 27 percent of prison guards exhibit symptoms of PTSD.
– In Vestre Prison, they have over 800 unoccupied guards a month. It gives a violent wear and tear, says Karina Lorentzen.
Several other parties, including the Liberal Party, are focusing on the increased violence over prison officers and outrage. The Liberal Party proposes tougher punishments – which in turn will give more prisoners.
If you ask Karina Lorentzen, part of the solution is also more employees at that point.
– The number of employees matters. It means something that the employees have time to create relationships with the inmates.
– If you can only be rounder and can never work with the inmates, it means something for safety. Because then everyday life becomes more betrayed, she says.