Prisoners suffer from emotional issues, stress: Official

EMOTIONAL issues and stress among prisoners and warders are a concern in prisons but the Government is more concerned about security, an official says.
Prisoners are emotionally affected when convicted which many officers are not knowledgeable enough to handle, Correctional Services (CS) director of strategy Supt Francesca Marenge said.
Marenge said this during a week-long CS women’s workshop in Port Moresby.
She said officers were participating in various courses and would go back to their prisons and educate others on how to deal with prisoners. “We are teaching them professional leadership skills, time management and better communication that they can carry out in the prisons among themselves,” she said.
“The times have changed, there are many educated prisoners going into jails.
“And the officers have to know how to handle them professionally.”
Marenge said recently, of 54 promoted officers, 28 attended training from other provinces except for Vanimo, Bougainville, Kavieng and East New Britain.
“Work has changed over time, we are receiving immigrants, women with children and disabled children,” she said.
“We should know how to look after them professionally,” Marenge said.
Buimo prison commander Chief Supt Judith Tara is the current highest ranking female officer.