Irish Prison Service Recruit Prison Officer Assessment (Ireland)

Read the following instruction: 'All officers must conduct a formal head count of inmates in their designated landing at 08:00, 14:00, and 20:00. The results must be logged in the landing book immediately. Any discrepancy must be reported to the Chief Officer II within 5 minutes.' According to this instruction, what is the first action an officer should take if the 14:00 count does not match the records?

• AReport the discrepancy to the Chief Officer II within 5 minutes.
• BConduct a second recount to verify the discrepancy.
• CSearch the landing for the missing inmate.
• DLock down the landing immediately.

Read the text: 'Prisoners wishing to access the tuck shop must submit a tuck shop docket by 09:00 on Tuesday. Late submissions will not be processed, and the prisoner will have to wait until the following week. Exceptions are only made for prisoners who were admitted to the facility after the deadline.' Which of the following prisoners would be permitted to submit a tuck shop docket late on Tuesday?

• AA prisoner who was in court during the morning docket collection.
• BA prisoner who was newly admitted to the prison at 11:30 on Tuesday.
• CA prisoner who forgot to submit their docket due to illness.
• DA prisoner whose docket was misplaced by their landing representative.

Read the log entry: 'Officer Murphy observed Inmate A exchanging a small packet with Inmate B in the exercise yard at 10:15. Upon being approached, Inmate A swallowed the packet, and Inmate B ran towards the gym. Both were detained shortly after.' Based on this log entry, which of the following statements is definitely true?

• AInmate A and Inmate B were exchanging illegal narcotics.
• BOfficer Murphy detained both inmates in the exercise yard at 10:15.
• COfficer Murphy saw Inmate A ingest the packet that was exchanged.
• DInmate B ran towards the gym to hide the packet.

Read the rule: 'No visitor shall be permitted to enter the visiting area if they refuse to undergo a search by electronic scanning equipment or a physical pat-down. Children under 16 must be accompanied by an approved adult visitor and are subject to scanning only, unless there is reasonable suspicion of contraband.' According to this rule, under what condition can a 12-year-old child be subjected to a physical pat-down search?

• AIf they are visiting a high-security prisoner.
• BIf they refuse to go through the electronic scanner.
• CIf there is reasonable suspicion that they are carrying contraband.
• DIf the accompanying adult consents to the physical pat-down search.

Read the statement: 'The use of cell call cards is a privilege, not a right. Inmates who abuse the system by pressing the emergency call button for non-emergency matters (e.g., asking for tea, requesting television channel changes) will face disciplinary action, including suspension of tuck shop access for 3 days.' Which of the following is a direct consequence of an inmate abusing the cell call card system?

• ASuspension of cell call card privileges for 3 days.
• BDisciplinary transfer to another landing or block.
• CSuspension of tuck shop access for 3 days.
• DA formal warning logged on the prison database.

Read the excerpt from a report: 'Officer Brennan responded to an alarm in the laundry room at 14:45. Upon arrival, he found Inmate C holding a steam iron in a threatening manner towards Inmate D. Officer Brennan gave three clear commands to drop the iron, which Inmate C ignored. Officer Murphy then arrived with additional staff, and Inmate C complied immediately upon seeing them.' What caused Inmate C to finally drop the steam iron?

• AOfficer Brennan's three clear verbal commands.
• BThe physical intervention of Officer Murphy.
• CThe arrival of additional staff with Officer Murphy.
• DThe sounding of the laundry room alarm.

Read the rule: 'Prisoners are permitted to receive up to three letters per week. Letters containing unauthorized items, drawings with potential escape routes, or coded messages will be confiscated and passed to the security office. Personal letters must not exceed four pages in length.' Under this policy, what happens to a letter containing a coded message?

• AIt is returned to the sender with a warning.
• BIt is confiscated and sent to the security office.
• CIt is held until the prisoner finishes their sentence.
• DIt is redacted and then given to the prisoner.

Read the policy text: 'Cell inspections are conducted daily to ensure cleanliness and detect contraband. If a cell is found to be in an unsatisfactory state, the occupants are given a warning and 2 hours to rectify it. A follow-up inspection will occur. If it remains unsatisfactory, the occupants will lose recreation privileges for 24 hours.' What is the consequence if a cell fails the follow-up inspection?

• AThe occupants lose recreation privileges for 24 hours.
• BThe occupants are immediately moved to a disciplinary unit.
• CThe occupants receive an official warning on their record.
• DThe occupants lose visitor privileges for the week.

In a prison report, an officer writes: 'The inmate's behaviour was belligerent and uncooperative during the search.' Which of the following words is closest in meaning to 'belligerent' as used in this context?

• AFearful
• BHostile
• CConfused
• DSarcastic

Read the rule: 'Medication must only be dispensed by qualified medical staff. Officers are responsible for escorting prisoners to the medical dispensary and verifying their identities using prison ID cards. Officers must observe the ingestion of medication to prevent hoarding ('cheeking').' According to this rule, what is the primary purpose of an officer observing a prisoner take their medication?

• ATo ensure the correct dosage is administered by medical staff.
• BTo verify the identity of the prisoner receiving the medicine.
• CTo prevent the prisoner from hoarding the medication.
• DTo document the time the medication was taken in the log.

Read the log: 'At 22:15, Inmate E complained of severe abdominal pain. Officer Kelly contacted the night nurse, who advised that Inmate E should be monitored every 15 minutes. If the pain intensified or was accompanied by vomiting, the doctor on call was to be contacted immediately. At 22:45, Inmate E vomited.' Based on this log, what action should Officer Kelly take next?

• AMonitor Inmate E for another 15 minutes.
• BContact the night nurse again for advice.
• CContact the doctor on call immediately.
• DAdminister pain relief medication to Inmate E.

Read the rule: 'Prisoners employed in the prison kitchen must wear clean whites, hairnets, and safety boots at all times while on duty. Any kitchen worker who reports sick with gastrointestinal symptoms must be cleared by the medical officer before returning to work.' Which of the following is required for a kitchen worker who has recovered from food poisoning to resume their duties?

• AClearance from the kitchen supervisor.
• BA clean pair of whites and new safety boots.
• CClearance from the medical officer.
• DApproval from the Governor of the prison.

Read the instruction: 'When escorting a prisoner outside the secure perimeter (e.g., for hospital visits), a minimum of two officers must be present. The prisoner must remain handcuffed to one officer at all times using an escort chain, except during medical procedures where the treating physician requests removal for clinical reasons and the senior officer approves.' Under what circumstance can handcuffs be removed from a prisoner during an external hospital visit?

• AIf the prisoner requests their removal to use the restroom.
• BIf the treating physician requests removal for clinical reasons and the senior officer ap…
• CIf there are three or more officers present in the room.
• DIf the hospital has a secure ward with locked doors.

An officer's report states: 'The incident escalated rapidly when Inmate F made a provocative gesture toward Inmate G.' What is the meaning of the word 'escalated' in this context?

• AResolved or settled down
• BMoved to a higher floor
• CIncreased in intensity or severity
• DBecame public knowledge

Read the policy: 'Inmates are entitled to a minimum of 1 hour of outdoor exercise daily, subject to weather conditions and security assessments. If outdoor exercise is cancelled due to severe weather, inmates must be offered access to indoor recreation facilities or gym areas for an equivalent duration.' If outdoor exercise is cancelled due to a heavy storm, what must the prison provide?

• AAn extra hour of TV time in their cells.
• BAccess to indoor recreation or gym facilities for 1 hour.
• CA rescheduled outdoor exercise session the following day.
• DA financial credit to their tuck shop account.

Read the directive: 'All staff must report any suspicion of radicalisation or grooming behaviour among prisoners. Key indicators include sudden changes in appearance, withdrawal from previous social groups, or possession of extremist literature. Reports should be made using Form SEC-04 and submitted directly to the Intelligence Unit.' According to this directive, which of the following is the correct method for reporting suspected radicalisation?

• AInform the Governor verbally at the end of the shift.
• BSubmit a completed Form SEC-04 directly to the Intelligence Unit.
• CLog the observation in the daily landing book only.
• DNotify the local Garda Síochána station immediately.

Read the rule: 'Cell search logs must contain the date, time, cell number, names of searching officers, and a detailed inventory of any contraband found. The log must be signed by both searching officers and countersigned by the landing Class Officer before the end of duty.' Which of the following would make a cell search log non-compliant with the rule?

• AIt was completed and signed by the searching officers during their shift.
• BIt did not contain the signature of the landing Class Officer.
• CIt listed the serial numbers of confiscated contraband items.
• DIt was completed 30 minutes after the search was finished.

Read the log: 'Officer O'Connor noticed Inmate H looking agitated during the lunch queue. At 13:10, Inmate H was observed in cell 4B with a minor laceration to his left forearm. Inmate H claimed he scraped it on a bed frame, but the injury appeared consistent with a self-harm attempt. Medical staff were called to assess.' Why did Officer O'Connor call the medical staff?

• AInmate H requested medical attention for his arm.
• BThe officer believed the bed frame was a safety hazard.
• CThe laceration was bleeding profusely and could not be stopped.
• DThe officer suspected the injury was due to self-harm, contrary to the inmate's claim.

In a training manual, it is written: 'Officers must maintain an objective stance when dealing with prisoner grievances to avoid accusations of bias.' Which of the following is the best synonym for 'objective' in this context?

• ASympathetic
• BImpartial
• CStrict
• DSuspicious

Read the procedure: 'When a fire alarm sounds, officers must immediately secure all prisoners in their cells, close all fire doors in the landing, and wait for instructions from the Control Room. Under no circumstances should officers attempt to evacuate the landing unless directly ordered by the Governor or if there is immediate, life-threatening smoke in the area.' According to this procedure, which of the following is a valid reason for an officer to evacuate the landing without a direct order from the Governor?

• AThe fire alarm has been sounding for more than 10 minutes.
• BThere is immediate, life-threatening smoke on the landing.
• CThe landing class officer advises that evacuation is necessary.
• DAll prisoners have been secured in their cells.

At 07:00, the total prison muster (count) is 342 inmates. During the day: - 12 inmates are discharged. - 8 inmates are transferred to another facility. - 14 new inmates are admitted. - 5 inmates return from temporary release. What is the final muster count at the 20:00 lock-up?

• A336 inmates
• B341 inmates
• C342 inmates
• D346 inmates

A landing has 48 cells. - 12 cells are double-occupancy. - 32 cells are single-occupancy. - The remaining cells are currently empty and reserved for maintenance. If all double-occupancy and single-occupancy cells are filled to capacity, how many inmates are currently housed on the landing?

• A44 inmates
• B56 inmates
• C48 inmates
• D60 inmates

An officer works a basic week of 39 hours at a rate of €22 per hour. Any overtime hours are paid at €33 per hour. If the officer works 47 hours in a week, what are their total earnings for that week?

• A€1,122
• B€1,034
• C€1,155
• D€1,551

During a random drug-testing sweep in a prison block housing 120 inmates, 15% of the inmates tested positive for banned substances. How many inmates tested negative?

• A18 inmates
• B96 inmates
• C102 inmates
• D105 inmates

A prison officer is checking the visitor log. - On Monday, there were 45 visitors. - On Tuesday, there were 52 visitors. - On Wednesday, there were 38 visitors. - On Thursday, there were 41 visitors. - On Friday, there were 64 visitors. What was the average (mean) number of visitors per day from Monday to Friday?

• A46 visitors
• B48 visitors
• C50 visitors
• D52 visitors

The prison security team requires 1 officer for every 8 inmates during outdoor recreation. If 74 inmates are in the recreation yard, what is the minimum number of officers required to supervise them?

• A8 officers
• B9 officers
• C10 officers
• D11 officers

A prisoner buys the following items from the tuck shop: - 2 bags of crisps at €1.15 each - 1 chocolate bar at €0.85 - 3 bottles of mineral water at €1.20 each - 1 writing pad at €2.10 If the prisoner starts with €15.00 in their tuck shop account, what is their remaining balance?

• A€6.15
• B€8.85
• C€7.25
• D€5.35

A prisoner count on a landing is performed. The morning count shows 84 prisoners. During the day: - 6 prisoners are escorted to court and do not return today. - 3 prisoners are sent to the hospital and remain there overnight. - 5 new prisoners arrive from court. - 2 prisoners return from temporary release. What is the lock-up count in the evening?

• A78 prisoners
• B80 prisoners
• C82 prisoners
• D84 prisoners

The total capacity of Prison Block C is 250 beds. Currently, 215 beds are occupied. What is the occupancy rate of Block C expressed as a percentage?

• A80%
• B84%
• C86%
• D88%

A laundry supervisor notes that the industrial washing machines use 15 litres of detergent per 100 kg of laundry. If the laundry team processes 850 kg of laundry in a week, how many litres of detergent are used?

• A120 litres
• B127.5 litres
• C135 litres
• D142.5 litres

An officer works a shift pattern of 4 days on duty followed by 2 days off. If the pattern starts with Day 1 as a duty day, how many duty days will the officer work in a 30-day month?

• A18 days
• B20 days
• C22 days
• D24 days

In a prison workshop, inmates produce wooden pallets. - A team of 6 inmates can produce 48 pallets in a 4-hour session. - How many pallets can a team of 9 inmates produce in the same duration, assuming they work at the exact same rate?

• A64 pallets
• B72 pallets
• C80 pallets
• D96 pallets

The night duty officer must conduct a cell check every 30 minutes between 22:00 and 06:00. How many checks must the officer perform in total during this night shift?

• A15 checks
• B16 checks
• C17 checks
• D18 checks

A prison food service prepares meals. - The kitchen budget is €3.20 per inmate per day. - The prison population increases from 380 inmates to 415 inmates. What is the increase in the daily kitchen budget?

• A€112.00
• B€120.00
• C€110.50
• D€115.00

In a cell search, officers find contraband cigarettes hidden in three cells: - Cell 102: 40 cigarettes - Cell 105: 85 cigarettes - Cell 109: 55 cigarettes If the cigarettes are packed in standard packs of 20, how many full packs of 20 can be formed from the confiscated cigarettes?

• A7 packs
• B8 packs
• C9 packs
• D10 packs

A prison's annual security report notes that the total number of security incidents was 120 in 2024. In 2025, the number of incidents decreased by 25%. How many incidents occurred in 2025?

• A80 incidents
• B85 incidents
• C90 incidents
• D95 incidents

A prison pharmacy has a bottle of liquid medication containing 600 ml. - Inmate X requires 15 ml twice daily. - Inmate Y requires 10 ml three times daily. For how many full days will this bottle supply both inmates' prescriptions?

• A8 days
• B10 days
• C12 days
• D15 days

A cell wing houses 160 prisoners. - 40% are classified as low risk. - 50% are medium risk. - The remainder are high risk. How many high-risk prisoners are housed in the cell wing?

• A16 prisoners
• B24 prisoners
• C32 prisoners
• D40 prisoners

An officer's roster for the fortnight shows the following shift hours: - Week 1: Monday (12 hrs), Wednesday (12 hrs), Thursday (8 hrs), Saturday (10 hrs). - Week 2: Tuesday (12 hrs), Friday (12 hrs), Sunday (10 hrs). What is the total number of hours rostered for the fortnight?

• A74 hours
• B76 hours
• C78 hours
• D80 hours

In a prison block, there are 4 landings. - Landing A has 38 inmates. - Landing B has 42 inmates. - Landing C has 46 inmates. - Landing D has 34 inmates. If the total capacity of the block is 180 inmates, how many vacant spaces are there in the block?

• A16 spaces
• B20 spaces
• C24 spaces
• D28 spaces

An inmate approaches you in a highly agitated state, shouting that his cellmate has stolen some of his personal letters. He demands that you search the cellmate's locker immediately. What is the most appropriate initial action?

• ACalm the inmate down, listen to his complaint, and tell him you will look into the matter…
• BConduct an immediate, aggressive search of the cellmate's locker in front of both inmates…
• CCalm the inmate, gather the details of the missing items, separate the inmates if necessa…
• DTell the inmate that personal letters are not priority items and that he should resolve t…

During a routine cell check, you observe a colleague pocketing a small, high-value electronic item belonging to an inmate's personal belongings. What is the most appropriate action to take?

• AConfront your colleague privately and demand that they return the item to avoid getting i…
• BReport the incident immediately and confidentially to the Governor or the line manager in…
• CIgnore the incident to maintain good working relations and peer solidarity with your coll…
• DWait until the inmate complains about the missing item, then report what you saw to the i…

A prisoner who has been cooperative and quiet for months suddenly becomes withdrawn, refuses to leave his cell for recreation, and refuses meals. What is the most appropriate response?

• ARespect the prisoner's privacy and leave him alone, as long as he is not violating any pr…
• BReport the sudden change in behaviour to the medical unit and the landing Class Officer,…
• CEnter the cell alone, demand that he explain his behaviour, and warn him that refusing me…
• DAsk other prisoners on the landing if they know why he is behaving this way.

You are a new recruit. An experienced officer tells you to ignore a specific security protocol, claiming it is 'unnecessary extra paperwork' and that 'everyone shortcuts it.' How should you handle this?

• AFollow the experienced officer's advice, as they have local knowledge and you want to fit…
• BPolitely inform the officer that you prefer to follow the official protocol, complete the…
• CReport the experienced officer to the Governor immediately for trying to subvert security…
• DFollow the shortcut when working with that officer, but follow the protocol when working…

A prisoner's family member approaches you during visiting hours and offers you a €500 cash gift, saying it is 'just a small thank-you for looking after our son.' How should you respond?

• AAccept the money, thank them politely, but tell them it will not influence how you treat…
• BRefuse the offer politely but firmly, explain that staff cannot accept gifts under civil…
• CTake the money, but donate it to the prison's charity fund to avoid personal conflict of…
• DReport the family member to the Gardaí immediately and demand they be arrested in the vis…

You hear a loud verbal argument developing between two prisoners in the communal dining hall. Several other prisoners are starting to gather around. What should you do first?

• AImmediately run between the two prisoners and physically separate them.
• BCommand both prisoners in a loud, clear voice to stop, while radioing for assistance and…
• CEvacuate the rest of the prisoners from the dining hall to prevent a riot.
• DStand back and wait to see if the argument resolves itself without intervention.

An inmate who is known for being difficult and manipulative claims that he is experiencing chest pain. You suspect he might be faking it to get out of his cell or delay a disciplinary hearing. What is the correct course of action?

• ATell the inmate you know he is faking and that he must proceed to the hearing.
• BTreat the medical complaint seriously, contact the medical unit immediately to assess the…
• CLeave the inmate in his cell and check back on him in an hour to see if the pain has subs…
• DSearch his cell first to see if he has hidden medication before calling the nurse.