Por Redaccion Next to the ones that have been applied, the figure of the Educational Control Assistant is incorporated, a system of substitution for unreported absences is established, and the video surveillance system will also have recording capabilities to reinforce protection.
March 25, 2025
Castilla y León | Department of Family and Equal Opportunities
In the Zambrana center in Valladolid, in the reform area, those minors who must comply with measures imposed by the judge as a result of committing criminal acts are interned. The Vice President of the Junta of Castilla y León and Minister of Family and Equal Opportunities, Isabel Blanco, has indicated that these facilities operate normally for this type of center, sending a message of reassurance to the center’s residents and their families.
Specifically, Isabel Blanco explained that minors can live, according to the judicial mandate, either in a closed regime or in a semi-open regime, with ordinary permits for weekend outings, scheduled outings, or for study reasons, among others, and that the majority of young inmates are affiliated with the latter.
However, the Vice President emphasized that the Junta works continuously to improve both the services and the care provided to minors and the security of all individuals connected to the center: on one hand, the professionals working at Zambrana and, on the other hand, the residents themselves.
More direct care professionals
Following the award of the management contract for the center to the Meridianos entity last year, the staff working in the facilities has increased significantly, from 56 to 84 workers, 70 permanently and 14 support staff to cover sick leaves, and the figure of the coordinator —nine in total— has been incorporated to strengthen and ensure the proper functioning of the center and support the educational work of direct care professionals.
In this regard, the ratio of direct care professionals is much higher than in other similar centers. For example, in this area of direct care on shifts, there is one worker for every 2.8 minors, while in other centers in Spain it is one for every 3.7 young offenders. Regarding the total staff, if in other centers managed by the Meridianos entity there are 0.85 professionals per minor, at Zambrana there are 1.25.
However, to ensure that the service and direct care are fully provided, a substitution system for unreported absences is being implemented. Thus, when several absences occur simultaneously, the minors continue to be attended to normally, while avoiding overloading the rest of the staff.
Security measures already implemented
Due to its characteristics, the Zambrana juvenile center must have security systems capable of addressing any incident. Nevertheless, the Junta of Castilla y León works continuously to update and improve both human and material equipment.
Since 2024, various actions have been carried out in this regard, such as the installation of a new closed-circuit television platform with surveillance on each floor of the building and around the perimeter; a new SOS or panic button system —which is intended to be further enhanced—; the security staff has been increased; a new camera control station has been installed in the central part of the reform building to reduce response times; earpieces have been acquired for the security team, and in addition, these professionals have been provided with anti-trauma or anti-stab vests to reinforce their safety during interventions they may need to carry out.
New security contract for the next two years
However, despite all of the above, the Department of Family and Equal Opportunities will continue to facilitate the work of the contracted entity’s professionals and guarantee their safety as well as that of the inmates. For this purpose, the new surveillance and security contract that will be tendered imminently will increase its budget by 28%, 800,000 euros more for two years, going from 2.8 million euros to 3.6 million.
In this way, in addition to improving the coverage in the SOS button system, whose correct operation is reviewed weekly, the video surveillance system will add recording functions for both image and voice. That is, the cameras, in addition to broadcasting live events in the center for the security team to view in real time, will permanently capture these images and sounds. This modus operandi is in place in other centers and aims to protect both the worker and the minor.
Furthermore, the Adis Meridianos entity will introduce an additional figure, the Educational Control Assistant, who will significantly enhance the center’s security as they will be permanently present in the spaces where minors carry out their activities and will have the capacity to control and contain the minors, always under the supervision of educators.