Although the number of prisoners has increased over time, the cadre of officers has not been duly revised nor increased proportionately, as a result of which the ratio of officers to inmates is very low. The shortage of staff requires a single officer to perform multiple roles, work long hours and undertake consecutive shifts. This adversely impacts efficient administration of the prison, increases security concerns and is the primary cause for procedural delays within the institutions, such as in the transfer of prisoners to hospitals, License Board procedures, inadequate outside time, etc. The level of training received by prison officers is inadequate, because although they are required to undergo induction training, according to senior officers, they cannot be released from their duties for in-service training. As a result, a long serving officer who received induction weapons training many years ago, may not be in a position to respond in a safe manner, respecting necessity and proportionality, in an urgent situation, as s/he has not undergone in-service training. Prison officers informed the Commission that they are not able to support their families on the current remuneration they receive. Due to the lack of funding for the Department and the unrevised system of allowances, many a time, prison officers may not be paid for working overtime. Further, the dangerous nature of their daily work and the constant threat to their lives is not reflected in the allowances and benefits they receive. The compounded impact of stressful working conditions, long shifts and insufficient pay causes prison officers to suffer high levels of burn out and loss of job satisfaction. As a result, they often experience psychiatric symptoms for which they do not have access to counselling or treatment. Complaints were also received about the living conditions of the officers’ quarters, specifically the accommodation reserved for unmarried prison officers, which added to their level of job dissatisfaction. Female officers in particular stated that the impact of the job on their family life was a major concern, as they could not give their family members and children due time and attention, specifically when they were stationed at duty stations away from their residence. Female officers discussed sexual harassment they faced in the workplace, but found it difficult to pursue remedies as they feared facing reprisals for complaining and could not risk their job security. The Commission observed prison officers at open and work camps fared better because these prisons are situated away from the city, in wide and open spaces. Camps are not usually overcrowded, and the officers do not have the burden of court duty as they house convicted prisoners. Senior officers routinely highlighted that the impact of the conditions of their work environment, personal problems and adverse mental state, is a determinant of the treatment of prisoners by prison officers. xxvii