Professional Wargames Applications - Part I
Importance for the Improvement of the Brazilian Prison System
WARGAMING
Introduction
The Brazilian prison system faces a series of complex and multifaceted challenges, ranging from overcrowding to endemic violence, including management and administration issues. Given this scenario, seeking innovative and practical solutions to improve prison security and management is imperative. One solution, which has not yet been explored in the Brazilian context, is using professional wargames to plan, analyze, and simulate scenarios.
Initially developed for military purposes, wargames have been increasingly applied in various sectors, including public administration, crisis management, and security. These games allow the simulation of complex scenarios, analysis of strategies, and decision-making in a controlled environment where errors can be corrected without real consequences. In the context of the prison system, wargames can be a valuable tool for anticipating and mitigating risks, improving coordination between the agencies involved, and training professionals in the field.
This article explores the potential of professional wargames to improve the Brazilian prison system. It addresses the fundamental concepts of wargaming, their application in non-military contexts, and how they can be adapted to the prison environment.
Remembering concepts
Wargames are simulations designed to replicate real, fictional, or hypothetical situations. They enable participants to analyze policies, strategies, and plans, make decisions, and evaluate results within a controlled environment. The origins of professional wargaming date back to the 18th and 19th centuries, when the military utilized these simulations to educate officers and plan operations. Pioneers such as the German innovator Georg von Reisswitz played a significant role in this development. Modern wargaming, as we know it today, began to take shape in the 20th century.
Wargames can be categorized based on their purpose and complexity. Additionally, they can be classified according to the level of decision-making involved:
Political wargames: Simulate political and diplomatic scenarios where participants negotiate, form alliances, and make decisions that influence the balance of power.
Strategic wargames: Concentrate on high-level decisions, such as planning military campaigns or allocating resources. These games often involve multiple variables and encompass a broad scope.
Operational wargames: Situated between the strategic and tactical levels, particularly regarding the planning and execution of military operations in a theater of war.
Tactical wargames: Concentrate on specific operations, such as battles or missions. These require more detail and in-depth knowledge of the tactics and techniques involved.
Professional wargames, regardless of their specific type, have some essential elements in common:
Setting: The game takes place in a specific context, including its environment, the forces involved, and the objectives that must be achieved.
Rules: The game's guidelines outline how participants interact and determine outcomes. They serve as instructions that explain the mechanics of the wargame.
Players: Individuals or teams participating in the game assume specific roles and make decisions based on the scenario and rules.
Control Group: These individuals include experts, judges, moderators, facilitators, tutors, game management, and support staff. They are responsible for leading the game by challenging the players and ensuring the established objectives are met.
Results: The impact of player decisions is assessed to identify lessons learned, recommendations, and areas for improvement.
Beyond the military context
The use of wargames in public administration has gained significant attention in recent years, particularly in crisis management. These simulations enable public managers to practice complex scenarios, evaluate strategies, and identify potential problems before they arise in real life. Here are some examples of how wargames are used outside the military context:
Planning responses for natural disasters is crucial. Public managers must make quick and effective decisions in events like earthquakes, hurricanes, or pandemics, often with limited information. Wargaming provides a safe environment for them to practice these decisions, allowing mistakes to be corrected without real-world consequences.
Decision-makers must coordinate actions among multiple agencies and respond quickly and effectively to terrorist attacks, industrial disasters, or social conflicts. Wargames can simulate these scenarios, test various strategies, and identify gaps in coordination and communication.
In public security, wargames can be used to plan police operations, prevent crime, and manage crises. These simulations enable security forces to practice high-risk scenarios and evaluate various response strategies and procedures.
In the article “Wargaming as Training,” dated October 10, 2010, available at https://www.policemag.com/patrol/article/15348354/wargaming-as-training, Amaury Murgado has 23 years of experience in public security in Florida, USA. He explained the importance and advantages of using wargames to enhance the skills of security operators. Below is an excerpt from the article:
“By the end of the exercise, the group was able to resolve many important issues that had not been confronted before. Many key issues were simply identified from casual conversation between participants. I can only imagine the number of what ifs and I never thought of that befores going on. When the terrorist attack did come, Giuliani and his crew responded with a higher level of preparedness than had they not done their table top exercise.”
The Brazilian case
We recognize that the Brazilian prison system encounters numerous challenges that directly affect the security and management of prison units. Among the primary issues, the following stand out:
Overcrowding: Brazil has one of the largest prison populations in the world, with approximately 700,000 prisoners in a system built for about 400,000. Overcrowding results in dangerous detention conditions, heightened violence, and management issues and difficulties.
Endemic Violence: Violence in prisons is a serious issue, marked by frequent riots, murders, and escapes. The presence of organized criminal groups exacerbates the situation.
Lack of Resources: Many prison units lack human, material, and financial resources, making it challenging to implement security measures and offer essential services to prisoners.
Lack of Training: Professionals working in the prison system often lack sufficient training to handle high-risk situations like riots or escapes.
Faced with these challenges, wargaming can serve as a valuable tool for enhancing the security and management of the Brazilian prison system. It enables managers and professionals in the field to simulate complex scenarios, analyze strategies, and identify vulnerabilities before they arise in reality. Some potential benefits of wargaming in the prison system include:
Risk Anticipation: Managers should be able to foresee potential risks, such as rebellions, escapes, or attacks from criminal factions, and create contingency plans to address these situations.
Improved Coordination: This can help enhance coordination among the various agencies involved in prison management, including the prison administration, the police, and the judiciary system.
Professional Training: This can serve as a development tool for professionals in the prison system, aiding them in developing skills to manage high-risk situations.
Effective Decision-Making: Enable managers to practice decision-making in a controlled environment where mistakes can be corrected without real consequences.
Conclusion
Although the use of wargames in the Brazilian prison system is still in its early stages, simulating various rebellion scenarios, such as hostage situations or the establishment of barricades, with proper analysis of different response strategies, including negotiation, controlled force, or special team intervention, can help professionals prepare to handle real situations effectively and safely. Implementing wargaming in the Brazilian prison system necessitates developing relevant and realistic scenarios that reflect the challenges and specifics of the system. These scenarios should be based on accurate data and information, including violence statistics, incident reports, and risk assessments.
Additionally, this requires the involvement of several stakeholders, including the prison administration, police, judicial system, and professionals in the field. The participation of these parties is essential to ensure that the scenarios remain realistic and that the strategies analyzed are both viable and effective. Moreover, it's crucial to engage wargaming experts, researchers, and consultants who can offer their specialized knowledge to facilitate the successful development and execution of the games. Evaluating the results of wargaming is vital to identify lessons learned and opportunities for improvement. This evaluation must include analyzing the obtained results, identifying vulnerabilities, and developing action plans to address these potential shortcomings. Lastly, wargames must be regularly reviewed and updated to stay relevant and practical in response to changes in the prison system and security landscape.
Given the above, T&P Análises can enhance the Brazilian prison system. It is a consultancy specializing in professional wargames, staffed by trained and experienced professionals in this methodology. This tool is highly relevant to this and other complex and current challenges.
Please find out more on our website: https://www.tpanalises.com/ and contact us for more information by email: contato@tpanalises.com