Corrections Vic Prison Officer SJQ cheat sheet

Priority order when demands conflict: immediate safety of people, then security of the prison and site, then rehabilitation, privileges and administrative tasks.

The 'reasonable officer' test: a decision is judged against what a competent officer with the same training, information and time pressure would have done at that moment.

Least restrictive option rule: choose the response that removes the risk with the smallest necessary restriction; escalate only when risk is imminent or lower-level options have failed.

Dynamic security relies on staff–prisoner relationships, observation and intelligence flow; static security relies on barriers, counts, searches and technology.

Use of force is lawful only when necessary, reasonable and proportionate, is the minimum required, and is reported and documented afterwards.

Incident sequence: contain (secure people and area), isolate (separate those involved), resolve (negotiate, then formal process).

Decisions are assessed on information known at the time, not on hindsight; therefore contemporaneous, factual notes are the primary evidence of good judgement.

Uncertainty rule: act to prevent foreseeable harm first, then report to a supervisor and record the decision and rationale in writing.

Victorian public sector values: responsiveness, integrity, impartiality, accountability, respect, leadership and human rights.

Corrections Victoria operates under the Corrections Act 1986 (Vic), the Corrections Regulations 2019 and the Charter of Human Rights and Responsibilities Act 2006 (Vic).

Conflict of interest: declare any personal, financial or family interest that could bias a decision, then avoid or manage the conflict.

Gifts, money, favours or services from prisoners, their families or associates must be refused and reported; acceptance creates leverage and debt.

Confidentiality follows the need-to-know principle: prisoner information is shared only with those who require it to do their job.

Failure to report known or suspected misconduct, including a colleague's, is itself a breach of duty.

Suspected corrupt conduct falls within the jurisdiction of the Independent Broad-based Anti-corruption Commission (IBAC).

Authority may be used only for a lawful purpose; favouritism, discrimination and personal use of powers are misconduct, and records must never be falsified.

Active listening sequence: attend, paraphrase, clarify, summarise; the summary is what confirms shared understanding.

De-escalation order: engage calmly, clarify the concern, reassure, offer realistic choices, set clear limits, act only if risk persists.

Lower pitch, slower speech and shorter sentences reduce perceived threat and improve comprehension under stress.

Instructions are effective when specific, concrete and checked by teach-back, not by asking 'do you understand?'.

Feedback targets observable behaviour and its impact, then states the required change; character labels trigger defensiveness.

Assertive message structure: behaviour, impact, required change, consequence - delivered calmly and firmly.

Use a professional interpreter for limited English or hearing impairment; never use another prisoner or a relative.

Threats, contraband information, self-harm disclosures and gang material are intelligence and must be passed promptly to the relevant officer or unit, not held informally.

Stress warning signs: hypervigilance, irritability, sleep change, withdrawal, increased absenteeism and increased substance use.

Burnout has three components: emotional exhaustion, detachment or cynicism, and reduced sense of accomplishment.

Critical incident debriefs are structured, non-punitive welfare and learning reviews, not disciplinary investigations.

Vicarious trauma accumulates from repeated exposure to others' trauma, such as prisoner disclosures of abuse, and alters beliefs and judgement.

Fatigue impairs attention, reaction time and risk assessment in a way comparable to alcohol intoxication; rosters, breaks and hydration are control measures.

Confidential support pathways include the Employee Assistance Program, peer support officers, chaplaincy and general practitioners.

Cumulative stress distorts risk perception in both directions - over-reaction and missed cues - so objective checks and second opinions matter.

Recovery factors with evidence: sleep regularity, physical activity, social connection, structured routine, and avoiding alcohol as a primary coping strategy.