This manual is designed to assist in the process of training prison staff in harm reduction. This package will not teach you how to become a trainer, does not teach you how to conduct and deliver harm reduction nor does it contain all the information on each topic covered in the manual.
The design of this package assumes that the person delivering the training will already be actively involved in training and have a good understanding of harm reduction and drug use. Depending on the specific situation in each prison, either single or mixed groups of professionals can be trained (e.g. a training session with security staff only, or a session including security staff, medical staff, and social workers).
What option you chose should depend on the respective prison setting. Training a single group of professionals will allow the trainer to respond to that group’s level of knowledge and specific needs while including different professional groups might facilitate wider discussion by including different points of view. Before providing training for some professional groups (e.g. staff from the prison management), ensure that individual participants will not be inhibited or the group process impaired.
Training on harm reduction should be an ongoing process and if possible be integrated into existing training activities and curricula. The training package is divided into different modules. It consists of an introductory section, a core module on harm reduction, and ten additional modules.
1.1 What is in this manual?
1.2 How to use the manual?
1.2.1 Structure of the training package
1.2.2 Structure of the modules
1.3 What is harm reduction?
1.4 Why do training on harm reduction?
1.5 How to conduct the training?
1.5.1 Prearrangements
1.5.2 Facilitator
1.5.3 Training environment
1.5.4 Required material/ equipment
1.5.5 Setting the ground rules for the training
1.5.6 Different methods of training
1.6 Evaluation of the training
1.7 Planning a course of training
2. Core Module
3. Additional Modules
3.1 Concepts and models of drug dependence
3.2 Infectious diseases
3.3 Mental health and drug use
3.4 Young people and drug use
3.5 Women prisoners
3.6 Foreign prisoners
3.7 Ethnic minority prisoners
3.8 Sexuality
3.9 Cooperation with NGOs
3.10 Health and Safety of Staff Glossary Annexes
Training Criminal Justice Professionals
Wiegand, C., Weilandt, C., MacDonald, M., Popov, I., Purvlice, B., Pavlovska, L., Parausanu, E. & Dobrota, D. (2007). Prison staff and harm reduction. A training manual. TCJP, Training Criminal Justice Professionals in Harm Reduction Services for Vulnerable Groups
Microsoft Word – TCJP_Teil_1_19-10-2010_to_pdf.doc (drugsandalcohol.ie)
