39. – More work is necessary before their final release date; 39. – A prison director will wish to have a successful relationship with local community employers in order to maximize work opportunities for prisoners; 39. – Good communications must be established, with potential employers being invited into the prison at every opportunity so that they are familiar with the prisoners, their abilities and their needs; 39. – Deciding which prisoners may work outside involves a risk assessment in each case; 39. – The risk of drug trafficking is a major consideration, as is the risk of violence or escape; 39. – Prisoners may respond particularly well to this initiative if they are paid a decent wage for their work and allowed some discretion in disposing of the income. CASE STUDIES Methodology: Different groups of trainees should take part in round-table discussions on the two case studies. Points to be highlighted/suggested areas for discussion: CASE STUDY 1 It has to be decided here whether the needs of the prisoner’s family should take precedence over the need to maintain good discipline in the prison; 39. – If the decision were made to allow her to go home, the reason would be compassion for the child needing his mother; 39. – It may be the opportunity for the prisoner to see the prison authorities in a different light and for her to consider her own role in her fate. CASE STUDY 2 39. – One of the most difficult problems for prisons is that they are shut away from the community; the work that goes on in them is largely unseen; 39. – It is the task of the director to open up the prison to the community as often and as much as possible in order for it, and its inhabitants, to be seen as part of the community; 39. – With some of the secrecy removed it might be possible to encourage certain members of the community to employ particular, well-screened prisoners outside the perimeter; 39. – The prison staff will need to make the community feel safe by being highly visible and encouraging, especially in the early stages of the project; 39. – It should also be possible for prison staff to educate the community on the need to prepare prisoners for their eventual return to the community; 39. – The message should be that the more prepared prisoners are, the less of a risk they will be to the community. 122