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Corrections Vic Prison Officer SJQ study materials
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Corrections Vic Prison Officer SJQ practice questions

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Question 1Situational judgement and decision-making

A prisoner in the unit refuses a lawful direction to return to his cell and clenches his fists while staring at you. No weapon is visible and other prisoners are watching. What is the most appropriate first action?

  1. Give clear verbal directions and a warning, and call for support. Correct answer.
  2. Move in straight away with your partner and take him to the ground.
  3. Tell him he will be placed in segregation unless he complies now.
  4. Walk away and come back when he has calmed down.

Explanation

Officers must use the least restrictive option available, giving clear directions and warnings before any physical intervention. Calling for support protects both staff and the prisoner. Physical force is only justified once it is necessary and proportionate to the risk.

Question 2Situational judgement and decision-making

A prisoner asks you how much longer another prisoner in his unit has to serve and what he is in for. What should you do?

  1. Check the other prisoner's file to see whether the information is public.
  2. Report him for attempting to obtain confidential information.
  3. Explain that you cannot discuss another prisoner's information. Correct answer.
  4. Tell him the sentence length only, since that is not sensitive.

Explanation

Information about a prisoner's sentence and offending is confidential and is shared only on a need-to-know basis within lawful authority. Officers should politely decline and redirect the conversation. Escalating the matter is unnecessary where no offence has occurred.

Question 3Situational judgement and decision-making

A prisoner you have supervised for several months hands you a $50 gift voucher and says it is a thank-you for treating him fairly. What should you do?

  1. Keep it in your locker and decide what to do later.
  2. Accept it and share it with the rest of the unit team.
  3. Accept it because the value is modest, then declare it at the end of shift.
  4. Decline it politely and report the offer in line with policy. Correct answer.

Explanation

Staff must not accept gifts or benefits from prisoners because they create a sense of obligation and undermine impartiality. The offer itself must be reported so it can be managed. Declining politely maintains rapport without breaching policy.

Question 4Situational judgement and decision-making

You find a prisoner in his cell with fresh cuts to his forearm. He is conscious and bleeding steadily. What should you do first?

  1. Leave him alone while you go to find the unit nurse.
  2. Give first aid and radio for medical help immediately. Correct answer.
  3. Ask him why he did it and record his answers first.
  4. Search the cell for the item he used before helping him.

Explanation

Preservation of life is the first priority, so first aid and an urgent request for medical assistance must come immediately. Searching the cell and interviewing the prisoner can follow once his health needs are being met. Any delay in obtaining treatment creates an unacceptable risk.

Question 5Situational judgement and decision-making

You are on your own in a unit when you see one prisoner assault another. What should you do first?

  1. Write down what you saw while the incident is fresh.
  2. Run to the staff office and telephone the operations manager.
  3. Radio an emergency code with your location, then respond. Correct answer.
  4. Pull the prisoners apart on your own without telling anyone.

Explanation

The radio is the primary means of summoning a coordinated response, and the location and nature of the incident must be transmitted clearly. An officer should not act alone without notifying others. Intervention then proceeds within the officer's capability while assistance is on the way.

Question 6Situational judgement and decision-making

You find a set of keys left in a gate lock in a residential unit. What should you do?

  1. Leave them in place so the officer who left them can find them.
  2. Ask a prisoner to take them to the unit office.
  3. Secure the keys and report the breach to your supervisor. Correct answer.
  4. Put them in your pocket and hand them in at the end of shift.

Explanation

Keys are a critical security item, and an unsecured set is a serious breach that must be remedied and reported. The keys should be secured immediately and the supervisor informed so the breach can be investigated. The other options all leave the security of the prison compromised.

Question 7Situational judgement and decision-making

During a routine cell search you find a mobile phone hidden in a mattress. What is the appropriate action?

  1. Leave it in the cell and note the find in your diary later.
  2. Switch it on and read the messages to identify the supplier.
  3. Give it to a peer worker so it can be returned to its owner.
  4. Seize it, record the find and secure it as evidence. Correct answer.

Explanation

Prohibited items located during a search must be seized, recorded and secured so they can be produced as evidence and the finding investigated. Personal examination of a phone risks contaminating the item and any investigation. The find must be documented promptly, not at the end of the day.

Question 8Situational judgement and decision-making

A prisoner swears at you during a routine interaction. What is the most appropriate response?

  1. Swear back at him so that he understands there are limits.
  2. Charge him immediately without warning, to set an example for others.
  3. Ignore him completely for the rest of the shift and tell no one.
  4. Stay calm, redirect him and use the proper process afterwards. Correct answer.

Explanation

Officers are expected to model calm, professional behaviour and to manage behaviour through lawful processes. Reacting emotionally escalates risk to staff and prisoners. Formal action should follow clear directions rather than replace them.

Question 9Situational judgement and decision-making

After you and a colleague use physical force to restrain a prisoner, what documentation is required?

  1. An incident report and use-of-force documentation as soon as practicable. Correct answer.
  2. A note in your personal notebook, written before you leave the unit.
  3. Only a report if the prisoner later complains about the force used.
  4. A report only if a supervisor directs you to complete one at the end of the shift.

Explanation

Any use of force must be reported and documented, typically through an incident report plus specific use-of-force records, as soon as practicable after the event. The obligation flows from the use of force itself. It does not depend on a complaint being made or on a supervisor giving a direction.

Question 10Situational judgement and decision-making

A prisoner gives away his belongings and tells you he 'won't be around much longer'. What should you do?

  1. Note it in the unit log and monitor him informally at the next muster.
  2. Tell him not to be dramatic and continue with your rounds.
  3. Act on it immediately as a risk indicator and refer him for assessment. Correct answer.
  4. Confiscate the belongings so that they do not cause disputes among other prisoners.

Explanation

Giving away possessions and making comments about not being around are recognised indicators of suicide risk and must be taken seriously. The response is immediate referral for assessment with appropriate observation. Property issues are managed through normal processes and are not the point of concern here.

Question 11Situational judgement and decision-making

A prisoner tells you he is being threatened by another prisoner and asks for protection. What should you do?

  1. Place him in segregation indefinitely without further assessment.
  2. Return him to the same unit and monitor the situation informally for a few days.
  3. Ensure his immediate safety and refer him for a protection assessment. Correct answer.
  4. Tell him to sort the matter out with the other prisoner first.

Explanation

A threat against a prisoner engages the duty of care owed to that prisoner. Officers must secure his immediate safety and have the matter assessed through the formal protection or separation process. Segregation cannot be imposed indefinitely without proper assessment and review.

Question 12Situational judgement and decision-making

Before a strip search of a prisoner can be conducted, which of the following is required?

  1. It must be carried out in front of other prisoners to deter concealment.
  2. The search may be conducted at any time by any officer without explanation.
  3. It must be properly authorised, private, same-sex staffed and documented. Correct answer.
  4. The prisoner must first sign a written consent form.

Explanation

Strip searches are highly intrusive and must be properly authorised, conducted in a private area by staff of the same sex as the prisoner, and recorded. Consent is not the legal basis for such a search; lawful authority is. Conducting the search in view of others is degrading and unlawful.

Question 13Situational judgement and decision-making

You need to give an important direction to a prisoner who speaks very little English. What should you do?

  1. Speak more loudly and slowly until he indicates he understands.
  2. Ask a bilingual prisoner to translate the direction for you.
  3. Proceed without explanation and record that he did not comply.
  4. Arrange an accredited interpreter to convey the direction. Correct answer.

Explanation

A prisoner must be able to understand directions and information affecting him, so an accredited interpreter should be used where language is a barrier. Using another prisoner as an interpreter breaches confidentiality and is unreliable. Speaking more loudly does not discharge the duty to communicate.

Question 14Situational judgement and decision-making

Two prisoners are shouting at each other in the exercise yard and appear close to fighting. What is the best action?

  1. Assess the risk, keep a safe position and use calm verbal de-escalation. Correct answer.
  2. Step between them and physically take hold of the more aggressive prisoner.
  3. Activate the fire alarm so that the yard is cleared.
  4. Wait to see whether they separate on their own before intervening.

Explanation

Officers should assess the situation, keep a safe distance and attempt verbal de-escalation while summoning assistance. Physically entering the dispute without support risks injury to staff and prisoners and may escalate matters. Passive waiting and unrelated alarms are not effective responses.

Question 15Situational judgement and decision-making

Which of the following best describes what should be included in an incident report?

  1. Only the outcome, so that the report stays brief.
  2. Your view of the prisoner's character and his likely motives.
  3. Times, observations, actions taken and who was involved. Correct answer.
  4. Your assessment of which prisoner probably started the incident.

Explanation

Incident reports must be objective, factual and chronological, recording times, what was observed, actions taken and the people involved. Opinion about character or likely responsibility undermines the reliability of the record and can prejudice later proceedings. A report should be complete rather than confined to the outcome.

Question 16Situational judgement and decision-making

You suspect a colleague is bringing contraband into the prison. What should you do?

  1. Report your concerns through the proper integrity channel. Correct answer.
  2. Say nothing until you have proof beyond any doubt.
  3. Warn prisoners to stay away from him while you investigate.
  4. Confront him about it in front of other staff at the next briefing.

Explanation

Suspected staff corruption must be reported promptly through the appropriate integrity channel so it can be investigated properly. Confronting a colleague or involving prisoners can compromise an investigation and put people at risk. Waiting for conclusive proof is not required and allows the conduct to continue.

Question 17Situational judgement and decision-making

The fire alarm sounds while your unit is locked down. What should you do?

  1. Open every cell door so prisoners can find their own way out.
  2. Evacuate yourself first and leave the prisoners to be collected by other staff.
  3. Leave all prisoners locked in their cells until the fire service arrives.
  4. Follow the emergency procedure, account for prisoners and evacuate. Correct answer.

Explanation

Unit emergency procedures set out how prisoners are accounted for and moved, and officers must follow them. Officers do not abandon prisoners, and uncontrolled release of prisoners creates a serious security risk. The fire service deals with the fire while staff manage the prisoners.

Question 18Situational judgement and decision-making

During a visit you see a visitor surreptitiously pass a small package to a prisoner. What should you do?

  1. Eject the visitor from the prison immediately, without any record.
  2. Stop the transfer, secure the item and report the incident. Correct answer.
  3. Note it and review the CCTV footage at the end of your shift.
  4. Ignore it unless the package is clearly a weapon.

Explanation

A suspected contraband transfer in visits must be stopped, the item secured as evidence, and the incident reported. Immediate ejection without a record loses evidence and accountability. Delaying action allows contraband to enter the prison and be concealed.

Question 19Situational judgement and decision-making

A prisoner with a diagnosed mental illness becomes agitated and refuses to return to his cell. What is the most appropriate approach?

  1. Communicate calmly, consider his condition and seek health advice. Correct answer.
  2. Apply restraints immediately as the first step to gain control.
  3. Use the same approach as for any other prisoner, without adjustment.
  4. Place him alone in the yards so he can burn off his agitation.

Explanation

Behaviour can be driven or amplified by mental illness, so responses should be adjusted to the individual while safety is maintained. Calm communication and health advice are appropriate first steps. Restraint is a last resort, not a first response.

Question 20Situational judgement and decision-making

You seize a suspected prohibited item during a search. To preserve its value as evidence you should:

  1. Keep it in your pocket until the end of your shift.
  2. Label it, record it and secure it with continuity documented. Correct answer.
  3. Show it to prisoners so the owner can be identified.
  4. Hand it to another officer to deal with and let them record it later.

Explanation

An item must be shown to be the same one seized and unaltered from that point to any later hearing. That requires labelling, recording and secure storage with documented continuity. Informal handling breaks the chain and weakens the evidence.

Question 21Situational judgement and decision-making

A prisoner quietly tells you that an officer has been supplying him with drugs, and begs you not to tell anyone because he fears the consequences. What should you do?

  1. Explain you must act on it and report it through the proper channel. Correct answer.
  2. Note it in the unit log and see whether anything further happens.
  3. Advise him to raise the matter himself through the prisoner complaints process.
  4. Give him your word that the conversation will stay between you.

Explanation

A disclosure of staff corruption must be acted on, and an officer cannot promise confidentiality over such information. The information should be referred through the proper reporting channel, with the prisoner's safety considered as part of that response. Telling him to complain himself does not discharge the officer's obligation.

Question 22Situational judgement and decision-making

A prisoner has barricaded himself in his cell with an improvised weapon and is threatening to seriously injure himself. What is the most appropriate response?

  1. Withdraw all staff from the unit and review the situation at the next shift.
  2. Contain the area, call for specialist support and keep talking calmly. Correct answer.
  3. Force the door open immediately and disarm him before he hurts himself.
  4. Turn off the water and power to the cell to force him out.

Explanation

A person in crisis who is armed and threatening self-harm is a high-risk situation requiring containment, calm communication and specialist assistance. Rushing the cell or cutting utilities escalates the risk of serious harm. Withdrawing entirely leaves the prisoner without protection.

Question 23Situational judgement and decision-making

A prisoner who is complying with directions swears at you. A colleague suggests applying restraints to 'settle him down'. What is the correct position?

  1. Restraints are appropriate because staff must never be sworn at.
  2. Force is acceptable in any form provided it is recorded afterwards.
  3. Restraints are justified whenever an officer feels disrespected by a prisoner.
  4. Force must be necessary and proportionate; swearing alone is not enough. Correct answer.

Explanation

Force must be necessary, proportionate and the least restrictive option available, aimed at managing risk rather than punishing behaviour. Verbal abuse by a compliant prisoner does not, on its own, justify restraint. Recording the force afterwards does not make unnecessary force lawful.

Question 24Situational judgement and decision-making

A senior officer asks you to record a muster as complete when you know three prisoners were not sighted. What should you do?

  1. Record it as directed, because the senior officer carries the responsibility.
  2. Record what you actually observed and report the request. Correct answer.
  3. Sign the record and raise the issue at the next staff meeting.
  4. Record it accurately but say nothing to anyone about the request.

Explanation

Official records must be accurate, and knowingly recording false information is misconduct regardless of who asks for it. The officer must record what was actually observed and report the improper request. Following an unlawful direction is not a defence.

Question 25Situational judgement and decision-making

You see a colleague strike a prisoner who is restrained and offering no resistance. What should you do?

  1. Say nothing, because reporting another officer undermines the team.
  2. Tell your colleague privately afterwards that he went too far.
  3. Record what you saw and raise it at the next team meeting.
  4. Intervene to stop it if safe and report it immediately. Correct answer.

Explanation

Officers must act to prevent excessive force where it is safe to do so, check on the prisoner's welfare, and report the matter. Silence or a private word allows the harm to continue and fails the duty of care owed to the prisoner. Raising it later at a meeting is not a sufficient response.

Question 26Situational judgement and decision-making

During the evening roll call a prisoner does not answer and is not visible in his cell. What should you do first?

  1. Report the absence by radio and check the area with another officer. Correct answer.
  2. Finish the roll call first so the record is complete, then look for him.
  3. Wait until the end of the shift and mention it in the handover.
  4. Enter the cell alone to see whether he has hidden inside.

Explanation

An unaccounted prisoner is a security incident, so staff must communicate it immediately and follow the missing-prisoner procedure. Finishing the roll or waiting until handover delays the response, and searching alone is unsafe.

Question 27Situational judgement and decision-making

You find a prisoner unconscious on the floor of his cell and suspect he has taken an overdose. He is breathing. What should you do?

  1. Leave him alone and go to the healthcare unit to fetch a nurse yourself.
  2. Call for medical help, check his airway and breathing, and use the recovery position. Correct answer.
  3. Ask the other prisoners on the landing what substance he has taken before doing anything else.
  4. Wait for him to wake up and then ask him how he feels.

Explanation

The immediate priorities are to summon medical help and protect the prisoner's airway and breathing. Staff should not leave a collapsed prisoner alone or delay care while gathering information.

Question 28Situational judgement and decision-making

A prisoner offers you a £20 voucher as a thank-you for helping him with his property. What is the most appropriate response?

  1. Decline politely and report the offer under the gifts policy. Correct answer.
  2. Tell him to give it to another officer instead.
  3. Accept the voucher but do not mention it to anyone.
  4. Accept it and share it with a colleague so no one is favoured.

Explanation

Accepting gifts from prisoners compromises professional boundaries and may breach the gifts and gratuities policy. The offer should be declined politely and reported so that it can be managed transparently.

Question 29Situational judgement and decision-making

After unlocking a workshop you realise that your bunch of keys is missing. What should you do?

  1. Borrow a colleague's keys and carry on with the workshop unlock.
  2. Report the loss at once, secure the area and follow key-loss procedure. Correct answer.
  3. Wait to see whether another member of staff hands them in.
  4. Retrace your steps quietly and hope to find the keys before the shift ends.

Explanation

Lost keys are a serious security risk because they may allow access to secure areas. The loss must be reported at once so that the area can be secured and the key-loss procedure followed.

Question 30Situational judgement and decision-making

You recognise a newly arrived prisoner as your cousin. What should you do?

  1. Say nothing and treat him exactly as you treat every other prisoner.
  2. Swap shifts with a colleague without explaining why.
  3. Tell your supervisor and ask to be excused from direct duties with him. Correct answer.
  4. Tell him privately that you will keep an eye out for him.

Explanation

A close personal relationship creates a conflict of interest and must be declared. The supervisor can then decide how to manage the risk, usually by removing you from direct duties involving that prisoner.

Question 31Situational judgement and decision-making

While checking incoming mail, you feel that a letter contains what appear to be tablets. What should you do?

  1. Open the item, remove the tablets and deliver the rest of the letter.
  2. Deliver it and report your suspicion at the end of the shift.
  3. Stop the item, isolate it and report it under the contraband procedure. Correct answer.
  4. Return it to the sender without making a record.

Explanation

Suspected contraband in mail must be stopped, isolated and reported so that it can be investigated and handled safely. Removing or delivering the item risks losing evidence and allowing prohibited items onto the wing.

Question 32Situational judgement and decision-making

A prisoner has refused all meals for two days, saying he is protesting about his conviction. What is the most appropriate action?

  1. Place him on report for refusing to follow the meal routine.
  2. Arrange for him to be force-fed at the next meal.
  3. Ignore the refusals because a prisoner has the right to protest.
  4. Record refusals, monitor health and refer him to healthcare. Correct answer.

Explanation

Refusal of food can become a health emergency, so each refusal should be recorded and monitored. Healthcare and the supervisor should be involved in line with the prison's self-harm and healthcare procedures.

Question 33Situational judgement and decision-making

You need urgent assistance while dealing with a prisoner in a cell. What is the most appropriate way to summon help?

  1. Phone the office after you have dealt with the incident yourself.
  2. Shout down the corridor for help and hope that a colleague hears you.
  3. Send a prisoner to the main office to fetch assistance.
  4. Use your radio to give your location and the emergency. Correct answer.

Explanation

Radio is the standard means of summoning assistance because it gives a clear location and nature of the emergency to all staff. Shouting or sending a prisoner is unreliable and may escalate the risk.

Question 34Situational judgement and decision-making

A visitor refuses to be searched before a social visit. What should you do?

  1. Search only the visitor's bag and allow entry if nothing is found.
  2. Allow the visit after warning the visitor that searches will follow.
  3. Refuse entry and refer the matter to your supervisor. Correct answer.
  4. Detain the visitor by force until they agree to be searched.

Explanation

Visitors who refuse a lawful search should not be admitted, and the matter should be referred to a supervisor under the visits search policy. Staff should not use force except as authorised or allow entry on a warning.

Question 35Situational judgement and decision-making

Two prisoners both claim ownership of the same radio found in their shared cell. What should you do?

  1. Let them settle the dispute between themselves.
  2. Toss a coin and record the result as agreed.
  3. Remove and log the item, then investigate the dispute. Correct answer.
  4. Give the item to the prisoner who has been in the prison longer.

Explanation

Disputed property should be removed and logged while the ownership is investigated under property procedures. This prevents conflict and ensures a fair and recorded decision.

Question 36Situational judgement and decision-making

You see a colleague post a photograph of a prison wing on a social media account. What should you do?

  1. Ignore it because it is your colleague's personal account.
  2. Like the post but do not comment on it.
  3. Report it to your supervisor as a possible security breach. Correct answer.
  4. Ask him to delete it and leave the matter there.

Explanation

Posting images of prison premises can reveal security arrangements and is likely to breach policy. It should be reported so that the material can be assessed and removed through the proper process.

Question 37Situational judgement and decision-making

A prisoner being escorted in a van is compliant and shows no signs of risk. A colleague says handcuffs should stay on for the whole journey. What should you do?

  1. Refuse every form of restraint for the whole journey.
  2. Assess the risk and use only the least restrictive authorised restraint. Correct answer.
  3. Remove the handcuffs while the van is moving to reduce the prisoner's distress.
  4. Apply handcuffs throughout because your colleague has more experience.

Explanation

Restraints must be necessary, proportionate and authorised, based on an individual risk assessment. A compliant prisoner should not be restrained merely for convenience.

Question 38Situational judgement and decision-making

You find a small package of white powder during a cell search. What should you do with it?

  1. Show it to other prisoners to ask whether they recognise it.
  2. Flush it away so that it cannot be misused on the wing.
  3. Put it in your pocket and hand it in at the end of the shift.
  4. Seal, label and record the package under the evidence procedure. Correct answer.

Explanation

The package should be sealed, labelled and recorded so that it can be used as evidence and handled safely. Personal handling or disposal destroys the chain of evidence.

Question 39Situational judgement and decision-making

A prisoner repeatedly presses his cell bell to ask for non-urgent things. What is the most appropriate response?

  1. Disable the cell bell so that he cannot press it again.
  2. Ignore every call from that cell for the rest of the shift.
  3. Respond, explain the bell's proper use and record continuing misuse. Correct answer.
  4. Shout at him to stop behaving like a child.

Explanation

Staff should respond and explain the proper use of the cell bell, while continuing to meet genuine needs. Persistent misuse should be recorded and managed under the normal behaviour procedures.

Question 40Situational judgement and decision-making

A prisoner asks to see his prison file. What is the most appropriate response?

  1. Read out another prisoner's details to prove that files are confidential.
  2. Tell him that prisoners are never allowed to see any information about themselves.
  3. Follow disclosure policy and release only what he is entitled to see. Correct answer.
  4. Show him the whole file so that he can check it for errors.

Explanation

Prisoners may be entitled to some information about themselves, but disclosure must follow the prison's policy and data-protection rules. Staff should release only what is authorised, not the whole file or another prisoner's details.

Question 41Situational judgement and decision-making

A drug dog indicates a prisoner's cell during a routine search. What should you do next?

  1. Arrange an authorised cell search under the search procedure. Correct answer.
  2. Strip-search the prisoner immediately in the corridor.
  3. Ignore the indication because dogs sometimes make mistakes.
  4. Place the prisoner on report before any search takes place.

Explanation

A dog indication provides grounds to search, but the search must still be authorised and conducted in the proper place and manner. Strip searches are not carried out in corridors.

Question 42Situational judgement and decision-making

The fire alarm sounds and a prisoner in an unlocked cell refuses to leave. What should you do?

  1. Lock the cell door and continue with the evacuation.
  2. Argue with him until he agrees to leave.
  3. Use reasonable force to evacuate him as trained. Correct answer.
  4. Leave him in the cell because the alarm may be a drill.

Explanation

In an emergency, staff must evacuate prisoners and may use reasonable force if necessary, following the emergency procedure. Leaving him or locking him in would place him at serious risk.

Question 43Situational judgement and decision-making

A colleague asks you to sign a search record for a search you did not witness. What should you do?

  1. Decline to sign and report the request to your supervisor. Correct answer.
  2. Ask another officer to sign it instead.
  3. Sign it but add a note saying you did not see the search.
  4. Sign it because your colleague was present and can vouch for the search.

Explanation

Signing a record you cannot verify is inaccurate and may amount to falsifying a record. The request should be declined and reported to a supervisor.

Question 44Situational judgement and decision-making

A prisoner complains that his meals arrive cold. What is the most appropriate response?

  1. Ignore the complaint because food quality is not your responsibility.
  2. Warn him that he will be put on report if he complains again.
  3. Acknowledge it, check the food and report it properly. Correct answer.
  4. Tell him to stop complaining and eat what he is given.

Explanation

Complaints should be acknowledged and checked, then reported through the proper procedure so that the issue can be resolved. Dismissing or threatening the prisoner is unprofessional and fails to address a legitimate concern.

Question 45Situational judgement and decision-making

In the workshop you see a prisoner using a tool to make an improvised weapon. What should you do?

  1. Ignore it because workshop tools are not prohibited items.
  2. Tell the other prisoners to keep away from him.
  3. Let him finish the item and then ask him to hand it over.
  4. Stop the work, seize the item and report it. Correct answer.

Explanation

The activity must be stopped and the item seized because it presents a danger to prisoners and staff. The incident should then be reported under the security procedure.

Question 46Situational judgement and decision-making

A new young prisoner tells you he is frightened and cannot cope on the wing. What should you do?

  1. Tell him to toughen up because prison is hard for everyone.
  2. Tell other prisoners that he is struggling so they can support him.
  3. Listen to him, reassure him and refer him to safer-custody staff. Correct answer.
  4. Place him in isolation until he stops complaining.

Explanation

The prisoner should be listened to and referred to safer-custody staff so that his risk can be assessed. Dismissing him or isolating him without assessment could increase the danger.

Question 47Situational judgement and decision-making

A prisoner says other prisoners are bullying him to hand over his medication. What should you do?

  1. Give the medication to another prisoner to hold for him.
  2. Dispose of the medication so that other prisoners cannot take it from him.
  3. Follow medication policy, report the bullying and involve healthcare. Correct answer.
  4. Tell him to keep the medication in his cell as prescribed.

Explanation

The bullying and the medication risk must both be managed under the medication policy and the anti-bullying procedure. Healthcare staff should be involved so that his medication is safely administered.

Question 48Situational judgement and decision-making

A journalist telephones the prison and asks you to confirm whether a named prisoner is being held there. What should you do?

  1. Decline to comment and refer the call to the press office. Correct answer.
  2. Confirm whether the prisoner is in the establishment but give no other details.
  3. Ask a colleague what they think should be said before answering.
  4. Give the journalist the information because the public has a right to know.

Explanation

Prisoner information is confidential, and media enquiries should be referred to the press or communications office. Staff should not confirm or deny individual details.

Question 49Situational judgement and decision-making

A prisoner grabs another prisoner and threatens him with an improvised blade. What should you do first?

  1. Raise the alarm, contain the area and follow the emergency response. Correct answer.
  2. Rush into the cell alone and try to disarm the prisoner.
  3. Shout threats until the prisoner releases the hostage.
  4. Walk away and wait for someone else to raise the alarm.

Explanation

The priority is to raise the alarm, contain the area and hand over to the trained emergency response. Rushing in alone or negotiating without support is dangerous.

Question 50Situational judgement and decision-making

You are concerned that two prisoners who share a cell are incompatible and may harm each other. What should you do?

  1. Tell them to sort out their differences between themselves.
  2. Ignore it because cell allocations are not your responsibility.
  3. Move one prisoner to another cell without recording the move.
  4. Report your concerns for a cell-sharing risk reassessment. Correct answer.

Explanation

Concerns about cell compatibility should be reported so that a proper cell-sharing risk assessment can be made. Unrecorded moves or leaving them to resolve it may increase the risk of violence.