Justice is backing down on new security criteria because it needs prisoners to fill job vacancies.

BarcelonaThe Ministry of Justice has lowered one of the requirements for prisoners to access a job in prison, a measure that was tightened only a few months ago to reinforce security after the murder of a cook in Mas d'Enric. It did so after verifying that one of the criteria applied was "excessively restrictive," to the point that it has made it difficult to fill vacant positions, as acknowledged by the Directorate General of Penitentiary Affairs in a regulatory amendment to which ARA has had access.

The initial circular published in September established the time that would pass from the last disciplinary case against a prisoner until they were eligible for a job. Now, an addendum to the circular published on Tuesday opens the door for treatment boards to reduce this security period by up to half.

The original text of the circular established this period of time as a common requirement for all jobs within the prison, regardless of whether they entailed a greater or lesser degree of risk. The time that had to pass from the last disciplinary case to accessing the job varied depending on the severity of the incident involving the inmate: for minor offenses, one month was required; for serious offenses, three months; and for very serious offenses, six months.

Now, this time period can be reduced by up to half if the prison's treatment board authorizes it. This will require a favorable report from the multidisciplinary team working in the prisons, according to the addendum to the circular signed this Tuesday.

Other requirements remain in place.

Aside from this requirement, the same circular stipulates that for an inmate to be eligible to work in prison, they must not have an active, uncompensated mental health diagnosis. Specific requirements for jobs considered at risk also remain in place, including, among others, prohibiting inmates with a history of violent offenses that have resulted in death or serious injury from working in kitchens.

In this way, the department amends itself in what was The first major movement in prisons by Councilor Ramon Espadaler since its arrival at the hands of the government of Salvador Illa. The restrictions raised alarm among various human rights groups and even Some prisoners removed from their work took legal action to try to overturn the dismissal.