Custody Agents in Training

About the job

Class and salary:

During training at the Custody Agents School (SAC), 8 months of theoretical and practical training: annual salary of CHF 56,668.30 gross.

During training, the 13th monthly salary and legally provided allowances are recognized.

Upon appointment as Custody Agent:

Class and annual salary (including 13th monthly salary):

4 58,067.-- / 90,237.--

Tasks:

• ensure the application of laws and regulations of the Prison Facilities and related internal provisions to guarantee order, security, and proper functioning
• perform tasks assigned by the hierarchical superior, respecting the job description and task list of the service location
• know the procedures as well as the various security devices
• monitor the correct execution of the daily program, ensuring compliance by persons deprived of personal liberty, interacting to ensure proper detention progress
• conduct inspections / searches / controls
• actively collaborate in routine management as well as emergencies
• record significant events for the service, complete necessary forms and tables on various IT supports; promptly report relevant events concerning personnel / detainees / facility / equipment / vehicles / materials and assist in their control and functionality
• follow continuous training, conducted inside and outside the cantonal territory
• maintain behavior worthy of esteem and trust required by the role even off duty to protect the image of the Prison Facilities and the Cantonal Administration

Requirements:

• Swiss citizenship
• age: classes from 1978 to 2005 are accepted
• maturity diploma or federal certificate of capacity obtained after at least three years of apprenticeship, or equivalent qualification
• category B driving license
• strong motivation for the job
• having applied to SAC competitions no more than three times; candidates who have not passed the psychological suitability evaluation for SAC must wait 2 years between applications

Physical and psychological requirements:

• good general health, especially absence of conditions that impair regular work as a shift Custody Agent
• good physical and stress resistance and mental suitability for the role
• minimum height: 165 cm men / 155 cm women
• no dependency incompatible with the Custody Agent role: candidates may undergo appropriate tests to verify abuse of alcohol or drugs
• minimum uncorrected visual acuity of 0.2 bilateral and minimum corrected visual acuity of 0.8 for one eye and 0.2-0.6 for the other. No visual field reduction, strabismus, or diplopia. No significant color perception anomalies (mild protanomaly; mild deuteranomaly; mild tritanomaly allowed)
• no hearing anomalies
• only tattoos that do not express discriminatory or offensive messages are allowed, provided they are not on the neck, nape, skull, face, or hands

Skills:

• good knowledge of spoken and written Italian
• knowledge of other languages is a preferential qualification
• adequate computer skills at user level
• flexibility, teamwork attitude, and reliability
• ability to work systematically, efficiently, and independently
• analytical and decision-making skills
• ease in contact with people

Conduct and background:

• a comprehensive police information collection on the candidate's entire personal history will verify the absence of elements or prior offenses incompatible with the Custody Agent role, evaluating in particular:
• the seriousness or nature of any committed crime
• recidivism
• good reputation; notably, no behaviors incompatible with the Custody Agent role such as dishonorable conduct, disrespect for societal ethical values, character predispositions to conflict, etc.
• absence of justified ongoing enforcement procedures and absence of asset deficiency certificates

Special notes:

• shift work 24 hours a day, 365 days a year
• theoretical and practical training is planned, with 100% employment rate, lasting 8 months, starting approximately in the second half of 2026. Appointment as Custody Agent may occur at the end of training depending on intermediate exam results (5th month) and verified professional suitability (practical internship evaluations)
• the Prison Facilities Directorate, after full-time theoretical and practical training, will consider hiring with appointment also at partial employment rate, depending on service needs

General conditions:

• all requirements must be met at the time of application submission
• candidates will undergo selective aptitude and psychological tests to assess suitability for the Custody Agent role, including physical tests, general knowledge tests (Italian, civics, history, and geography), math/logic, IT skills, psychological evaluation, and individual interview
• test dates will be communicated to candidates meeting all requirements at a later stage
• before confirming employment, the candidate will undergo a medical examination to certify professional suitability
• cantonal administration trusted doctors may request specific medical certificates in particular cases
• at hiring, domicile and residence in the Canton of Ticino or neighboring Italian-speaking Grisons valleys is mandatory
• attention: if at any selection stage elements incompatible with the role emerge, the candidate will be automatically excluded. Private expenses incurred by candidates during selection will not be reimbursed under any circumstances

Documents and application conditions:

• applications must be submitted exclusively online at www.ti.ch/concorsi, accompanied by the following documents:
• personal curriculum vitae
• recent passport-size photo (frontal, upper torso, vertical, color, neutral background)
• study and work diplomas and certificates (the Human Resources Section reserves the right to request originals at any time); if obtained abroad, official equivalence documents issued by the Swiss Confederation are mandatory
• identity card (front/back scan) or passport
• driving license (front/back scan)
• criminal record extract, valid 6 months (available at the Federal Office of Justice in Bern – website: www.casellario.admin.ch). Swiss citizens who have lived abroad from age 16 must provide the criminal record extract (or equivalent document) from that country
• cantonal enforcement extract, valid 6 months (available at the Enforcement Office – website: www.eservices.ti.ch/eservices/esrv/?SRV=2FHA). Swiss citizens who have lived abroad from age 16 must provide solvency certificate (or equivalent document) from that country
• SIAC extract (formerly ADMAS), valid 6 months (request from the Traffic Section, Legal Office, 6528 Camorino, or by email: di-sc.ufficiogiuridico@ti.ch). Swiss citizens who have lived abroad from age 16 must provide the extract (or equivalent document) from the respective country/countries
• military service booklet extract (pages 3-14 and 36-41) only for those who have fulfilled military obligations
• authorization form for obtaining information*
• self-certification of health status for state employment*
• self-certification regarding criminal record*
• self-certification regarding tattoos*
• specialist medical certificate from an ophthalmologist, valid 6 months*
• specialist medical certificate from an otorhinolaryngologist, valid 6 months*
• documents marked with an asterisk (*) can be downloaded from the official site www.ti.ch/concorsi, by clicking on the "Prison Facilities - Custody Agents in Training" competition
• documents to be requested from the relevant offices can be sent later by email, but no later than 15 days after the competition deadline
• documents not in an official Swiss national language are accepted only if accompanied by an officially certified translation by the competition deadline
• only online applications are valid (other forms will not be accepted); upon submission, ensure the application has been correctly received by the Human Resources Section (confirmation email)

Information evening:

A presentation evening about the profession and training and professional path is scheduled for February 24, 2026

at 8:00 p.m. at the Cantonal Civil Protection Training Center in Rivera or streaming at www.ti.ch/multimedia

Deadline:

March 31, 2026

Cantonal Prison Facilities, Mr. Enrico Ghilardi, Management Officer, phone 091 815 00 11. www.ti.ch/carcere / orientamento.ch (professions, custody agent) / www.prison.ch