Irish Prison Officer Recruit flashcards

32 cards. Read the term and the definition here. The deck at the top of this page is optional.

Percentage change formula

((new value − old value) ÷ old value) × 100. A drop from 80 to 60 is a 25% decrease because 20 ÷ 80 = 0.25.

Reverse percentage

If a price is €64 after a 20% discount, the original is 64 ÷ 0.8 = €80. Adding 20% back onto the discounted price gives the wrong answer.

Sharing in a ratio

Add the ratio parts, divide the total by that sum, then multiply by each part. €4,200 shared 3:4 gives €1,800 and €2,400.

Mean from total

Mean multiplied by count gives the total. If five items average 12 the total is 60, so adding an item of 18 makes six items average 13.

Speed, distance, time

Speed equals distance divided by time. A journey of 150 km in 2 hours 30 minutes is 60 km/h, using 2.5 hours as the divisor.

Minutes as decimal hours

Divide minutes by 60 before multiplying or dividing by an hourly rate: 15 minutes is 0.25 hours, 30 minutes is 0.5, 45 minutes is 0.75.

Successive percentage changes

Multiply the multipliers rather than adding the percentages. A 20% rise then a 20% fall is 1.2 × 0.8 = 0.96, a net 4% decrease.

Overnight shift duration

On a 24-hour clock, add 24 hours when the end time is earlier than the start time. A shift from 22:45 to 06:30 lasts 7 hours 45 minutes.

True, false, cannot say

True follows only from the passage; false contradicts it; cannot say means the passage gives too little information to decide either way.

Rule for cannot say

Decide cannot say solely from the passage provided, never from personal knowledge, common sense or what is usually true in real life.

Meaning of most

Most means more than half but not all. A passage saying most officers qualify does not support a claim that all officers qualify.

Scope shift trap

Answer options that widen the passage's subject, for example from some recruits to all staff, are unsupported even when they sound reasonable.

Absolute words in options

Words such as always, never, only and must require explicit textual support. Without that support the option is usually not the answer.

Some A are B logic

Some A are B guarantees that at least one A is B. It does not support the stronger claims that all A are B or most A are B.

EXCEPT question method

In an EXCEPT question, three options are supported by the passage. The correct answer is the single option that the passage does not support.

Word in context

Choose the meaning that fits the sentence's logic, then substitute it back into the sentence to confirm the sentence still makes sense.

Least restrictive option first

Use communication and de-escalation before physical intervention. Force must be necessary, proportionate, minimal and used only for as long as required.

Self-harm disclosure

Any statement of suicidal intent or self-harm must be reported immediately to a supervisor or healthcare staff and recorded. It is never kept confidential.

Found contraband

Do not return the item to the prisoner. Secure it, note exactly where and when it was found, and inform your supervisor without delay.

Confidentiality rule

Prisoner information is shared only with staff who need it for their duties. It is never discussed with other prisoners or outside the workplace.

Escalating an instruction

Obey lawful and safe instructions. If an instruction is unlawful or unsafe, raise it with your line manager or a senior officer rather than acting on it.

Recording an incident

Record as soon as practicable, stating facts, times and names, without opinion, blame or speculation about anyone's motives.

Colleague misconduct

Report a colleague's misconduct through your line manager. Do not confront them publicly, cover for them or discuss it with other staff.

Most effective option

The best answer solves the immediate problem, stays within your role's authority and follows procedure. The worst ignores risk or exceeds authority.

Duty of care balance

Security measures must still respect a prisoner's dignity. Explain the reason for a restriction and apply it consistently to all prisoners.

STAR structure

Situation stated briefly, Task as your responsibility, Action as what you personally did, and Result as the outcome. Most of the answer sits in Action.

First person evidence

Say I decided and I did rather than we did. Panels can only score behaviour they can clearly attribute to you as an individual.

Quantify the result

Close with a measurable outcome such as reduced waiting time, a percentage improvement, money saved, or positive feedback received from a named source.

Avoid adjective-only claims

Saying I am hardworking scores nothing alone. Replace it with a specific example describing what you did and the result it produced.

One example per competency

Use a different example for each competency question so the panel sees range. Reuse an example only if it genuinely covers two competencies.

Answer the command verb

If asked to outline, give a brief summary; if asked to explain, give reasons. Ignoring the verb loses marks even when the content is correct.

Written answer length

Word limits form part of the assessment. An answer over the limit or off the topic earns fewer marks than a shorter, focused answer.