C HAPTER 16. G OOD ORDER AND CONTROL OBJECTIVE Prison authorities have a responsibility to ensure the physical safety of prisoners, staff and visitors. This means that prisons should be places where there is good order. The objective of this chapter is to underline that good order involves much more than control and is best achieved by positive means. ESSENTIAL PRINCIPLES Prisons should be safe environments for all who live and work in them, i.e. for prisoners, for staff and for visitors. No one in a prison should fear for his or her physical safety. Chains and irons shall not be used as restraints. Discipline and order shall be maintained with firmness but with no more restriction than is necessary for safe custody and well-ordered community life. These principles should be presented visually and remain on display throughout the session. BASIS IN INTERNATIONAL INSTRUMENTS Exercise: Using the Compilation of Instruments, the trainees should work in pairs in order to discover the basis for each of these principles. Ask for the information to be reported back to the group. IMPLICATIONS The important element is that prisons are run better, i.e. with good order and control, if a reasonable approach is adopted by prison staff. This has the practical effect of eliciting a reasonable approach from the detainees. PRACTICAL RECOMMENDATIONS These should be presented one at a time, visually, with discussion being encouraged at each stage. Trainees may be willing to offer some of their own experience. If this casts a negative light on the point being discussed, it is important to probe to find what other factors may have been influencing the outcome. 88