Journal of Security and Sustainability Issues

This paper outlines various issues concerning education of Prison Guard officers in the security system of the Second Polish Republic. The subsequent parts of the paper highlight a short outline of the history of the Polish prison system in the years 1918-1939, the functioning of the Prison Guard in the Second Polish Republic, as well as training methods employed by the organisation. The issues highlighted in the paper address key aspects concerning Prison Guard education. The first part of the article offers a broader outline of the issue at hand, showcasing some of the characteristic elements of the Polish penitentiary system in the years 1918-1939, in particular in the 1920s, which were particularly difficult for the reborn Polish state, as the Second Polish Republic had to face various challenges concerning its external and internal security. This, of course, had its impact on the condition of the Polish prison system, as the newlyestablished penitentiary system faced various problems and issues. The terrible shape of the buildings, poorly trained staff and dire conditions faced by prisoners serving their sentences led the state authorities to undertake the painstaking task of creating an efficient penitentiary system from scratch. From the point of view of the entire interwar period, this task can be deemed successful, as the state of prisons in the 1920s was significantly worse compared to the 1930s. The training and education of Prison Guard officers was an integral and inseparable part of the development of the Polish penitentiary system. This paper outlines the educational process and subsequent forms of schools educating and training future prison guards. What is more, it also highlights their main objectives, the subjects taught and the figures of lecturers responsible for teaching individual subjects, concluded with a summary.