EuroPris - The European Organisation of Prison and Correctional Services

📢 Highlights from the EuroPris Staff Exchange Programme The pilot of the Staff Exchange Programme, hosted by the Vanglateenistus | Estonian Prison and Probation Service, concluded with an inspiring visit to the Estonian Academy of Security Sciences. Participants had the unique opportunity to explore Estonia’s approach to staff training while touring the Academy’s facilities. Key takeaways from the programme include: • Comprehensive Training: Estonian prison officers undergo extensive preparation in areas like technical security, IT systems, and protection, supported by diverse educational programmes. • Rehabilitation Focus: Paid work opportunities for prisoners equip them with new skills, fostering reintegration and potentially reducing reoffending rates. • Innovation & Technology: Estonia leads the way with advanced digital systems, modern prison design, and a balanced approach that emphasizes both authority and respect. • Staff Well-Being: A strong focus on staff development and well-being ensures high standards and a positive working environment. This exchange offered participants a wealth of insights into Estonia’s progressive prison practices, sparking discussions on how these approaches could be adapted and implemented in their own countries. 👏 We're glad to report on a productive pilot and extend a thank you to our hosts as well as to all participants for making this first Staff Exchange Programme a success!

First Edition of the EuroPris Staff Exchange Programme hosted by the Estonian Prison and Probation Service: Last week the first edition of the EuroPris Staff Exchange Programme was hosted by the Estonian Prison and Probation Service. This pilot programme brought together 10 prison professionals from 5 different countries: Greece, Luxembourg, Slovenia, Czech Republic, and Germany. Over the course of a week, participants had the unique opportunity to shadow Estonian prison staff and visit all three Estonian prisons, gaining valuable insights into the country's prison system. This programme not only fosters the exchange of knowledge between professionals but also provides a platform for participants to learn from each other and from the host country's best practices. We'd like to thank the Estonian Prison Staff for their support in making this first pilot possible! Vanglateenistus | Estonian Prison and Probation Service

Key Trend: Prison Overcrowding in Europe 📰 We’re pleased to share Penal Reform International’s latest expert blog, part of the #GlobalPrisonTrends2024 series. This insightful piece explores: • Disparities in overcrowding across European prisons • The operational and human impacts of overcrowding • Measures and strategies to address this pressing issue This blog is the first in a three-part series examining trends in European prisons. We're happy to share that we collaborated with Penal Reform International on this project, gathering valuable insight from our members to further broaden the knowledge of the European prison landscape in the discussion. Tackling prison overcrowding is a shared responsibility, and we believe insight and initiatives like these can play a role in sustainable solutions. Building on this, we're planning further activities in 2025 to address overcrowding and its impacts through focused discussions and collaboration. 

🌟 Building Stronger Partnerships for Criminal Justice in Europe: Yesterday, representatives from the Criminal Justice Platform Europe (CJPE)—including the European Forum for Restorative Justice (EFRJ), the CEP Probation, and EuroPris—gathered in The Hague for an important meeting to strengthen collaboration and shape the future of criminal justice across Europe. 📜 One key moment was the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU). This pivotal document outlines our shared vision, partnership goals, and operational framework, setting the stage for continued collaboration on activities that enhance restorative justice, probation, and prison services across Europe. 🎓 Planning for next year’s Summer Course was another highlight. The theme “How to Promote Change: The Importance of the Professional Role within Restorative Justice, Probation Services, and Prisons,” a flagship initiative that focuses on equipping professionals to drive meaningful change. Thank you to Jana Spero Kamenjarin, Anna Esquerrà Roqueta, and Edit Törzs, who made this meeting so productive!

🌐How can artificial intelligence reshape the future of prison and probation services? And, what steps are needed to ensure that AI is used ethically and effectively when we do? These are some of the pressing questions the Council of Europe addresses in its ground-breaking recommendation on “ethical and organisational aspects of the use of artificial intelligence and related digital technologies by prison and probation services,” drafted by the PC-CP working group supported by Pia Puolakka (Prison and Probation Service, Finland), Håkan Klarin (Prison and Probation Service, Sweden), and Fernando Miró Llinares (University Miguel Hernández of Elche, Spain) published on 9 October 2024. To delve deeper into the recommendation, we're inviting you to an engaging webinar featuring two of the co-authors: 🎤 Pia Puolakka (Prison and Probation Service, Finland) 🎤 Håkan Klarin (Prison and Probation Service, Sweden) They’ll share insights into the drafting process and provide a summary of the recommendation. As members of the EuroPris ICT expert group, they will reflect together along with other three experts of the group on the practical ways to implement the recommendation across Europe.

🌟 Concluding the Stress Management Training Together with the Training Institute of the Dutch Custodial Institution Service (Opleidingsinstituut DJI) and the Training Centre of Justice of Georgia, yesterday we wrapped up the last EPTA training of 2024: An engaging two-day Stress Management Training for people working in penitentiary systems! With 23 participants from 15 jurisdictions, the training focused on a creative and interactive approach to managing occupational stress. Discussions and activities encouraged open dialogue on key topics, including: 🔹 Creating a supportive culture where staff feel comfortable speaking up about stress and asking for help. 🔹 Identifying challenges and needs in day-to-day operations to foster a healthier work environment. 🔹 The exchange of evaluation tools and sharing best practices for mental health awareness and stress-sensitive policies in prison services. 🔹 Insights into stress measurement tools, the physiological effects of stress, and recognising alarm signals. 🔹 Group work on coping strategies, as well as identifying personal and environmental risk factors. 🔹 Techniques for self-reflection and grounding. 🔹 Strategies for implementing new habits to balance self-care and manage stress. This training served as a reminder of the importance of acknowledging stress as part of our professional lives and working together to build resilience and support networks within the prison sector.

The EuroPris Working Group on Ukraine recently held a hybrid conference in Ukraine. The event brought together 20 participants from various member jurisdictions and key stakeholders, including the Council of Europe. The hybrid conference: 🔹 Highlighted the current needs and challenges of Ukraine’s penitentiary system 🔹 Mapped ongoing efforts and outlined future priorities 🔹 Discussed pressing issues and opportunities for progress Key discussions centred on ongoing reforms within Ukraine’s penitentiary system, with the Ukrainian Ministry of Justice prioritising the humanisation of the system and the improvement of prison conditions to align with international and European standards. Looking ahead, the Working Group will continue its efforts in 2025 to map ongoing initiatives and further outline the needs within the Ukrainian penitentiary service. A highlight in the effort to further strengthen the ongoing reforms and international cooperation in the region. 

🚀 Strengthening Synergies Across EuroPris Expert Groups!   • Chair of the ICT Expert Group: Marjan Lukavečki (Croatia) • Chair of the Real Estate Expert Group: Tony McDonnell (Northern Ireland) • Co-Chair of the Staff Wellbeing Expert Group: Iva Prskalo (Croatia) Last month in Zagreb, Croatia, chairs from EuroPris' ICT, Staff Wellbeing, and Real Estate & Logistics Expert Groups got together to explore collaboration beyond traditional boundaries. Together, they discussed ideas such as: • Joint outputs, • Events • Chair meetings • And collaborative webinars or panel discussions. By mixing expertise, we pave the way for holistic solutions! For example, tackling overcrowding requires insights from Real Estate, ICT, and Staff Wellbeing to create comprehensive strategies. Discussions also highlighted overlaps, such as: ✔️ The “ICT-led prison design” guideline—a collaboration integrating tech into early prison planning (ICT & Real Estate) ✔️ Green spaces & WELL-certified buildings (Real Estate & Wellbeing) ✔️ Using tech to strengthen staff-prisoner relationships (ICT & Wellbeing) Thanks to the Ministry of Justice, Public Administration and Digital Transformation of Croatia (Ministarstvo pravosuđa, uprave i digitalne transformacije).

🌍 Highlights from the Foreign Nationals in Prison and Probation Workshop On 29-30 October 2024, EuroPris, in collaboration with CEP Probation and hosted by the Federal Ministry of Justice of Austria, brought together experts from across Europe to tackle one of the most pressing issues in criminal justice—Foreign National Offenders (FNOs). With migration and global shifts influencing European prison systems, addressing the challenges and opportunities surrounding FNOs has never been more important. The workshop featured insightful presentations, discussions, and knowledge-sharing among professionals in prisons, probation, and NGOs. 📥 Dive deeper into the discussions and findings in our full report—available now on our event page! Find the full report here: https://lnkd.in/duTC4-TK

Last week, on 20–21 November, EuroPris participated in the Swiss Forum on Foreign Nationals in Prison, themed “Foreign Nationals in Prison – Lost in Translation?” This pan-European event brought together experts and researchers from diverse backgrounds to share insights and best practices. The EuroPris/CEP FNPP Expert Group was represented by Coordinator Petra Pavlas and Chair Daniel Danglades, who delivered key presentations. With 16 workshops and numerous presentations, the Forum explored critical issues, including care, post-exit preparation, and the rehabilitation of Foreign National Offenders (FNOs). Experts from both practice and research focused on three key topics: 🔹 Return orientation – implementation, possibilities, and limits 🔹 Transculturalism and mental health – competencies and approaches 🔹 Working in multicultural environments – tasks and challenges Petra highlighted the importance of Recommendation CM/Rec(2012)12 and the need for both equal and individualised treatment of foreign nationals. She pointed out the importance of training prison staff, probation officers, and judges on the dynamic and ever-changing issue of FNOs in prison; improving optimal rehabilitation. Daniel presented his conclusions expanding his perceptions in a panel discussion, emphasising that "having a perspective is essential for foreign nationals in prison. It gives hope. Whether that perspective is in your country of origin or in the country where you are imprisoned". An important focus on multi-agency approaches both local and international cooperation is essential for successful rehabilitation. We’re pleased to hear that Petra and Daniel appreciated the opportunity to explore the Swiss prison system, gaining valuable insights into the challenges posed by the varied legal frameworks across different cantons while sharing their expertise and experiences with participants at the European level. Thanks to our colleagues at the Swiss Competence Center of Expertise for Prison and Probation (SKJV / CSCSP)!