Justice Ministry urges prison service to strengthen ethics after inmate relationships

The Lithuanian Ministry of Justice has issued recommendations to the Lithuanian Prison Service after cases emerged involving female prison employees who had romantic relationships with convicted prisoners, LRT reported.

The measures aim to strengthen professional ethics, organisational culture and employees’ emotional resilience, Deputy Justice Minister Martynas Dobrovolskis said.

“The potentially inappropriate conduct of individuals cannot become the criterion for assessing the entire service,” Dobrovolskis said. “It is now important not only to properly assess possible violations, but also to strengthen the organisation as a whole, including its people, managers, internal culture and ability to resist potentially inappropriate influence.”

The ministry recommends that prison and administrative unit managers discuss professional boundaries, official ethics, the prevention of conflicts of interest, and the risks of manipulation and inappropriate influence with employees.

Employees should also be reminded to maintain professional and objective relationships with convicted prisoners and detainees, avoid situations that could create dependency, favouritism or conflicts of interest, recognise signs of manipulation in time, and report possible violations to management.

The ministry also recommends assessing employees’ need for psychological and emotional support and arranging such assistance where necessary. Managers should give employees opportunities to raise questions, concerns or anxieties about the impact of such situations on their professional activities and reputations.

The recommendations also call for an assessment of training needs in official ethics, professional boundaries, recognising manipulation, resisting inappropriate influence and preventing corruption.

Particular attention should be paid to managers’ preparedness to respond to crises, the ministry said. It recommends assessing whether prison administration managers can provide clear, objective and consistent information, manage emotional reactions, maintain a stable working climate, and recognise signs of stress, tension or declining motivation among employees.

Training in crisis communication, emotional support for employees and strengthening organisational culture should be arranged for managers where necessary.

The ministry said the measures should help strengthen the Prison Service’s organisational culture, employees’ resilience to potentially inappropriate influence, mutual trust and public confidence in the corrections system.

ELTA reported that two prison officers left their jobs in July because of close, romantic and intimate relationships with convicted prisoners. A catering company employee also had her permit to enter a prison revoked. Another case involving a relationship outside official duties was identified last week.