WILLEMSTAD – Curaçao’s prison does not expect its current recruitment efforts to bring staffing levels up to full strength, as the Sentro di Detenshon i Korekshon Kòrsou (SDKK) struggles with limited interest in security positions, an aging workforce and recruits dropping out during training.
According to a report by the Council for Law Enforcement, staffing remains one of the major challenges facing the prison. Positions such as security officer and correctional officer appear to have limited appeal among younger job seekers, making it increasingly difficult for SDKK to fill vacancies.
The problem is compounded by the aging of the existing workforce. Employees are retiring, while others move into higher positions within the organization, creating new vacancies that must be filled.
New recruits also face obstacles during the training process. Insufficient command of the Dutch language can limit their employability, while behavioral problems sometimes emerge during training. As a result, some candidates fail to complete the program.
The Council therefore concludes that the recruitment rounds currently underway are unlikely to be sufficient to fill all available positions.
The shortage comes at a time when SDKK continues to face security challenges inside the prison. According to the Council, absenteeism among prison employees tends to increase when tensions among inmates rise, further reducing the number of personnel available at precisely the moments when staffing is most important.
Another concern emerged during preparations for a new inmate administration system. Some employees reportedly do not feel comfortable recording information about inmates in the designated internal systems. The report does not elaborate on the reasons for that reluctance.
Drone smuggling also remains a persistent problem. Despite the no-fly zone above the prison complex, attempts to use drones to deliver contraband are described as occurring regularly. SDKK is working with other organizations to examine how surveillance and enforcement around the prison can be strengthened.
At the same time, financial uncertainty threatens an education program that the Council says has been functioning successfully.
The three-year Education, Formation and Training project provides inmates with access to 13 different educational programs and has attracted considerable interest among the prison population. A branch of OSBOD was established inside SDKK specifically to support the program.
However, funding for the project is coming to an end. According to the Council, this means the program could have to be significantly reduced.
The Council warns that such a reduction would negatively affect efforts to rehabilitate and prepare inmates for their return to society.
The combination of staff shortages, increased absenteeism during periods of unrest, continued attempts to smuggle contraband by drone and uncertainty surrounding rehabilitation programs highlights the broader challenges facing Curaçao’s correctional system.