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Welcome to the EuroPris Knowledge Management System. The table below shows questions and responses from European National Agencies. Select a question for more information or use the filters on the left to narrow down questions based on Agency or Category.
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Introduction: The Latvian Prison Administration would like to find some information regarding NGOs in prisons as NGOs are getting more and more involved in the Latvian Penitentiary system.
It depends on the organization, sometimes it’s signed an agreement of co-operation without cost, regulating what kind of actions will be implemented and what centers. Besides asking a certain commitment from the volunteers, the organization has also to submit an action plan of activities to perform on prison center, and all volunteers should sign a document in order to comply with the Act of Data Protection on confidentiality that should kept in their activities.
What normative acts in your country regulate prison and NGO cooperation?In addition to the state and autonomous regulations relating to volunteering, the General Direction of Penitentiary Services have the rules of volunteering in prisons “Circular de voluntariat” regulating the issue of access to prisons, accreditation, training, relationship between institutions, prisons and headquarters.
Who is financing the events organised by NGO with the aim of reintegrating inmates or ex-inmates into society?Generally, organizations that provide volunteer services do not receive any benefits from the Justice Department. Usually they are financed with their own funds, donations from its partners, funding from other public bodies, etc.
Who is controlling the NGO participation in the inmates’ reintegration, including licensing resocialisation programs?The Service of Open Regime and Social Services, along with the services of each prison center have the responsibility to control and monitor the activities carried out by these organizations associations and foundations. In addition there is a body (called Table of Social Participation and tables of 2nd level) that supports these organizations allowing them to be directly involved with prison policy decisions and ensuring participation processes.
Who is training the NGO representatives for work in prisons?The training is given to volunteers who participate in activities at the centers: 20 hours of compulsory attendance and accredited by the Ministry of Welfare, specifically by the Office of Social Cooperation and Volunteer, in charge of regulating all matters related to volunteering in Catalonia.
Voluntary organisations receive income from contracts, grants and donations. Because it is more difficult to hold organisations to account through a grant, most public money is spent through clearly set out contracts. Philanthropic funders typically use grants.
What normative acts in your country regulate prison and NGO cooperation?People are most likely to volunteer through the Voluntary, Community and Social Enterprise sector (VCSE) at local and national level, as well as through local community groups, and as individuals. Local community religious groups play an important route and prison Chaplains are increasingly encouraging volunteering and support for their members who may be in prison. Some Chaplains are themselves unpaid. Many volunteers work ‘through the gate’, providing continuity in prison and then in the community to facilitate resettlement. Whilst we try to minimise the bureaucracy and hurdles that potential volunteers may face, there are additional requirements for those volunteering to work with offenders. The voluntary sector has long played an important role in reducing reoffending and working with offenders both in and outside prisons. This work is greatly valued by NOMS as they add value and a diverse range of skills and allows new ideas and specialism’s to flourish. About 13,000 voluntary sector bodies work with offenders in some way and about 1,500 list offenders amongst their primary beneficiaries
Who is financing the events organised by NGO with the aim of reintegrating inmates or ex-inmates into society?It is difficult to quantify the full resource and cost allocated to volunteering and the Voluntary Sector, due to the wide range of local agreements and due to additional costs associated with training, infrastructure, facilitating access in prisons and vetting. There are only a few large providers in the sector; CRI (Crime Reduction Initiatives) has a turnover of £100m (mainly from drug interventions). Catch 22 and Nacro have turnovers around £50m and the Saint Giles Trust (prominent for its through-the-gate peer mentoring) is around £5m. There are also larger providers that work with offenders as a sub-set of their main user group, for instance Turning Point (mental health) or Stonham (social housing) and Barnardos (Children and families). NOMS spends £9.2 million a year on centrally contracted services with the voluntary sector. This covers a range of provision on a national, regional and local basis for services that support resettlement of offenders. For example, family engagement workers through the Prisoners Advice and Care Trust (PACT), visitors services through Spurgeons, and mentoring and resettlement for prisoners in Wales with Re-org Trust. The transformation of community provision and introduction of Community Rehabilitation Companies (CRCs) has opened up community services to a more diverse set of providers which are likely to include a wide range of VCSE organisations as part of the CRC supply chain. NOMS also manage a grant funded programme which directly funds VCSE organisations to develop capability, knowledge and good practice and to deliver activity in areas which reflect the Agency’s priorities. During 2014-2015, we committed £3m grant funding to 25 VSCE organisations. In addition to direct contracts and grants, NOMS has secured European Social Funding to support better outcomes for offenders. Contracts given through the European Social Fund must have an element of utilising volunteer and peer mentors to deliver a variety of support services such as befriending, listening and practical support for offenders in custody and in the community. The five year contracts will began in July 2015 at a total value of £18 million.
Who is controlling the NGO participation in the inmates’ reintegration, including licensing resocialisation programs?Individual Governors have a high degree of autonomy about who they work with. At a local level, Governors and Probation Divisional Directors have discretion to engage with volunteers and voluntary organisations, forging links with the local community and complementing local provision. They have the knowledge and understand the availability of suitable volunteers or voluntary organisations; they are well placed to identify options to increase volunteer engagement.
Who is training the NGO representatives for work in prisons?Principally within the criminal justice system it is important that volunteers are properly identified and vetted and that they are appropriately trained, supported and supervised. This is for their own safety and wellbeing as well as for the safety and wellbeing of offenders, many of whom are vulnerable. NGO’s are responsible for training their own staff and volunteers. NOMS suggest that they look to the best practice guidance developed by Clinks – the infrastructure organisation that supports voluntary, community and social enterprise organisations working within criminal justice (www.clinks.org)
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A Partnership Framework guide exists to assist the prison to work in partnership with a wide range of third sector organisations. It is designed to be a simple, step-by-step process which will ensure proactive planning, communications, delivery and evaluation of third sector work in prisons, resulting in improvements in the quality and availability of services for offenders. The guide addresses all aspects of partnership working, in order to ensure that there is a full understanding of what is to be achieved and a robust relationship between the prison and the third sector organisation. This includes: • Agreeing the parameters of the project • The planning phase • Communication • Funding and sustainability • Minimum operating standards expected • Minimum standards of policies and procedures • Arrangements for monitoring and evaluation • Governance arrangements Importantly, the guide applies to agreeing services which are not funded by the SPS and which are not subject to tender or formal procurement regulations. These services are commonly externally funded (by the delivery organisation or by independent Trusts and Foundations).
What normative acts in your country regulate prison and NGO cooperation?The are no legislatives acts which cover prison and NGO co-operation.
Who is financing the events organised by NGO with the aim of reintegrating inmates or ex-inmates into society?See above. SPS funds its own internal services for the reintegration of prisoners. In addition, services provided by NGOs will be funded by the delivery organisation itself or by independent Trusts, Foundations and Charities. • The SPS recognises that the Third Sector has a distinctive contribution to make across public policy challenges, and justice in particular, and that the Third Sector can often reach where the state and the market cannot; • The SPS also recognises that the Third Sector has a well-developed understanding of service user needs twinned with a formidable track record of innovation around public policy challenges; and • The SPS recognises the Third Sector as a key partner in meeting the desistance challenge and we are committed to playing our part, alongside our partners in the Third Sector, to improve outcomes for people in the justice system in Scotland.
Who is controlling the NGO participation in the inmates’ reintegration, including licensing resocialisation programs?There is general consensus that the leadership of the SPS should meet with the leadership of the Third Sector to explore current and emerging policy and strategic priorities and system and service design and delivery challenges. It was provisionally agreed that this should be done through an Annual presentation to the Criminal Justice Voluntary Sector Forum by the Director of Strategy and Innovation and Head of Strategy, Planning and Partnerships on the penal policy priorities for the year ahead and to reflect on the year just past. This would provide an opportunity to identify: • areas of common interest that the SPS and third sector may wish to jointly work on over the coming year; • any forthcoming SPS Strategy/Policy development activities to which the third sector could contribute; and • explore any areas for further development within the strategic priorities. It was agreed that this should take place late Spring/early Summer to coincide with the publication of the SPS Annual Delivery Plan. It was further agreed that this annual presentation would be supplemented in the following ways: • We will jointly develop of a written articulated commitment around engagement, setting out engagement routes, regularity of communications, escalation processes for any concerns, principles and behaviours etc; • Attendance at the CJVSF by the Head of Strategy, Planning and Partnerships (at least once per annum) to provide an update on penal policy and service design and delivery challenges; • SPS engagement as part of CJVSF thematic events (which would try and take account of shared SPS and CJVSF priorities); • Third sector engagement as part of SPS led knowledge exchange; • Third sector engagement as part of SPS strategy development (flagging to be done through CJVSF meeting with HSPP above); • Opportunities to engage in workforce development (including SPS engagement in the CJVSF Collaborative Induction Training Programme); • SPS engagement with the third sector through other fora, as required, at national and local levels; and • Engagement at a local level, through individual establishments and involvement with Community Justice Partnerships. • An annual meeting between chair and coordinator of CJVSF and SPS Director of Strategy and Innovation and Head of Strategy, Planning and Partnerships (as part of the preparatory work for the annual presentation). • Strategic SPS representation at National PSP Boards
Who is training the NGO representatives for work in prisons?NGO representatives will be trained by the individual service deliverer, but will also be trained in security and safety techniques within the prison environment where this is deemed necessary.
Generally the agreement of collaboration is not formalised with the written contract between prison system and NGO. We did not perceive any troubles with such arrangement. There is an exception in case of staff education when contract with organisation (NGO) is signed, also because the prison system provides funds for parts of the service.
What normative acts in your country regulate prison and NGO cooperation?Fundamental normative act regulating prison and NGO cooperation in Slovenia is the Enforcement of Criminal Sanctions Act (ECSA). It introduces principles of cooperation with NGO organisations. According to ECSA Article 6: (2) bodies responsible for the enforcement of penal sanctions shall cooperate with other bodies working in this area. Article 100: (1) states that “in planning and carrying out activities and programmes of social inclusion, the competent centres, institutes responsible for employment, bodies and organisations providing accommodation opportunities and public health care and education institutions shall be involved in addition to the convict and prison staff, unless this is rejected by the convict.” In the second paragraph of Article 6 it adds that “in addition to the bodies and services referred to in the preceding paragraph, assistance to a convict may also be provided by societies, charity organisations, self-help organisations and other civil society organisations.” And in the third paragraph Act provides that “all participants in the process of social inclusion of a convict must act in a concerted manner.” Final provision in the Act is the second paragraph of Article 145 stating: “If the convict has difficulties concerning employment, housing, medical treatment or education, the supervisory officer shall, in addition to contacts with the responsible centre, establish contacts with other relevant bodies, companies and other organisations that are able to provide the convict with the necessary assistance.”
Who is financing the events organised by NGO with the aim of reintegrating inmates or ex-inmates into society?Events are primarily financed by NGOs – there are however tenders that support such events.
Who is controlling the NGO participation in the inmates’ reintegration, including licensing resocialisation programs?After particular NGO demonstrates interest and presents the program a staff person from the prison system sits down with contact person from NGO and they plan a programme. This person is then in charge to control the course of events. Depending on the kind of program run by NGO prison system choses a person related to the area of program interest. At almost every prison location there are for example persons responsible for cultural and educational activities, sports and recreation activities.
Who is training the NGO representatives for work in prisons?There is no special training provided for the NGO representatives. They are informed about the regulations considering entrance and conduct in prisons.
Yes there is a contract signed by DJI and NGOs . In a NGO legislation sets out the rights and obligations of the NGO.
What normative acts in your country regulate prison and NGO cooperation?Normal operations between NGOs and the Custodial Institutions Agency (in Dutch: Dienst Justitiële Inrichtingen, abbreviated as DJI) that institutions wishing to operate within the walls of the Judicial device DJI is applying for a NGO status. The application is assessed by a three- member committee. With the NGO status , these institutions are considered as official institutions such as the probation service and the corresponding rights.
Who is financing the events organised by NGO with the aim of reintegrating inmates or ex-inmates into society?The NGO is responsible for financing its own activities. They can apply for grants if they meet the requirements of the Grant Framework of the Voluntary work in the Custodial Institutions.
Who is controlling the NGO participation in the inmates’ reintegration, including licensing resocialisation programs?Inside the prisons there exist reintegration centers where prisoners can work on their reintegration with guidance and support from volunteers. These volunteers are led by a professional force, a case manager . Outside the institutions there are also reinetgration centers but without the guidance from the prison by a judicial assistant. The voluntary organization itself should ensure the guidance of the volunteers. DJI financially supports the reintegration program of ex -offender for a period of six months after release of prison.
Who is training the NGO representatives for work in prisons?Volunteers or staff of NGOs are trained by the NGO itself and coached.
The initiative to cooperate may come from the PPS or a NGO. In most cases there are no written contracts or agreements. Although, when a NGO apply for a grant, there has to be a plan which regulates what kind of work or activities the NGO will do and how it will be carried out. This plan has to be known by the local prison, the regional office and the Head Office.
What normative acts in your country regulate prison and NGO cooperation?The Swedish Prison and Probation Service (PPS) have an instruction that regulates cooperation with nonprofit non-governmental organizations. Furthermore, there is an ordinance that regulates that nonprofit non-governmental organizations may be entitled to a grant from the PPS when they do work that aim to improve inmates' chances of leading a law abiding life after having served their sentence.
Who is financing the events organised by NGO with the aim of reintegrating inmates or ex-inmates into society?NGOs may be entitled to grants from the PPS (see the answer to question number 1). They may also be entitled to grants from funds and foundations. Some of the work or activities by a NGO may also be paid for by the PPS.
Who is controlling the NGO participation in the inmates’ reintegration, including licensing resocialisation programs?The work and activities by NGOs are a complement to the work and activities that are conducted by the PPS. The NGOs’ work is essentially everyday human contact and support from people who do not represent an authority. This will hopefully lead to increased contacts outside institutions for the inmates and also increase the motivation to change destructive patterns and participate in other treatment interventions. The PPS do not conduct quality controls but the work and activities by NGOs are followed up in other ways, for example that prison staff participate in the activities. Furthermore, the PPS control that the NGOs conduct the activities that they have been allocated funds for.
Who is training the NGO representatives for work in prisons?The NGO representatives will be informed by the PPS about security, confidentiality and what is considered a correct approach in the meeting with inmates. The representatives will also get a written instruction for how their work should be conducted so it correlates with the work that is conducted by the PPS. The representatives may also get information about different rehabilitation programs that are conducted by the PPS, but only to have some knowledge not to conduct the programs themselves. The work and activities by the representatives of NGOs should differ from that of the PPS in the way that they should represent “everyday people” and not an authority.
Prison System Directorate cooperates with NGOs based on explained proposal of the NGO offering programs and activities for prisoners, whose implementation can contribute to achieving the purpose of serving the prison sentence. Prison System Directorate has signed cooperation agreement with few NGOs (for example in the field of reintegration of drug and alcohol addicts), while implementation of programs of several NGOs is supported by the Prison System Directorate which has signed the partnership statement regarding implementation of specific program or project.
What normative acts in your country regulate prison and NGO cooperation?Cooperation between the Prison System Directorate and NGOs is regulated by the Law on the Enforcement of the Prison Sentence.
Who is financing the events organised by NGO with the aim of reintegrating inmates or ex-inmates into society?Ministry of Justice doesn't have budgetary item for financing activities of NGOs aimed at reintegration of prisoners to society so these activities are financed from other sources, as a rule from tenders announced by other ministries or from European projects.
Who is controlling the NGO participation in the inmates’ reintegration, including licensing resocialisation programs?NGO which gets approval from the Head office of the Prison System Directorate for implementing activities with prisoners gets clear instruction about the frame of allowed practice. Members of NGO who implement activities with prisoners must sign the statement on protecting confidentiality of data. NGO can implement only group activities with prisoners and member of prison treatment staff is always present (and participating) to control whether if implementation of activities is according to the Law, approval of the Head Office and according to program of activities which was submitted for approval.
Who is training the NGO representatives for work in prisons?Prison System Directorate doesn't train NGO representatives on how to work with prisoners. To get approval to work with prisoners NGO must deliver data on professional background of its members who will implement programs. Implementation of a program is approved only to NGOs whose members have adequate professional qualifications and experience in a specific field of treatment of prisoners addressed by the program (for example: conducting sport or artistic workshop, providing programs for reintegration of drug or alcohol addicts etc.)
The collaboration begins based on a NGO’s submission, which is evaluated according to the needs of the Latvian Prison Administration and the places of imprisonment. In the future we plant to sign a contract with NGOs when the collaboration will be planned as long-term.
What normative acts in your country regulate prison and NGO cooperation?Section 10 and Section 461 of the Sentence Execution Code of Latvia, and the Law on Volunteer Work.
Who is financing the events organised by NGO with the aim of reintegrating inmates or ex-inmates into society?Events organised by NGOs are not financed from state budget. NGOs finance events for inmate reintegration in society by raising funding from other sources.
Who is controlling the NGO participation in the inmates’ reintegration, including licensing resocialisation programs?In the future the licensing of re-socialisation programs are planned. For now, NGOs are not implementing cycles of sessions that have been evaluated and agreed upon by the Latvian Prison Administration. In places of imprisonment the actions of NGOs, including those intended for inmate integration, are being monitored to eliminate the possibility of violating law.
Who is training the NGO representatives for work in prisons?Administration of the place of imprisonment instruct the members of the NGO before they start their work at the place of imprisonment.
Yes, a contract with a director of the prison
What normative acts in your country regulate prison and NGO cooperation?Executive Penal Code, The Ordinance of the Prime Minister
Who is financing the events organised by NGO with the aim of reintegrating inmates or ex-inmates into society?They can be financed from the post-penitentiary fund. NGO can also apply for EU funds for their activities.
Who is controlling the NGO participation in the inmates’ reintegration, including licensing resocialisation programs?It is colntolled by the Regional Inspectorates of Prison Service and the Central Board of Prison Service.
Who is training the NGO representatives for work in prisons?N/A
What normative acts in your country regulate prison and NGO cooperation?There are no cooperations with NGO's.
Who is financing the events organised by NGO with the aim of reintegrating inmates or ex-inmates into society?N/A
Who is controlling the NGO participation in the inmates’ reintegration, including licensing resocialisation programs?N/A
Who is training the NGO representatives for work in prisons?N/A
In most cases the prison signs an agreement with the NGO, and the persons from the NGO will have to have their name checked against the Danish Register of Crime before getting permission to enter a prison. The collaboration is usually based on a NGO’s submission to The Danish Prison & Probation Service.
What normative acts in your country regulate prison and NGO cooperation?There are no general normative acts in Denmark regulating prison and NGO cooperation. However persons working for a NGO are in general subject to the same rules that apply to prison staff and other cooperators. These are rules of for example confidentiality and data protection.
Who is financing the events organised by NGO with the aim of reintegrating inmates or ex-inmates into society?In most cases events organised by a NGO are financed by the NGO. However the prison involved often makes additional staff available to solve the security task associated with the event and thereby indirectly makes a financial contribution. Events can also be financed by funds (including government funds). In such cases The Danish Prison & Probation Service from time to time serves as co-applicant.
Who is controlling the NGO participation in the inmates’ reintegration, including licensing resocialisation programs?The vast majority of resocialisation initiatives are in Denmark traditionally handled by The Danish Prison & Probation Service, including licensed resocialisation programs. The events provided by NGOs are therefore to be seen as an extra service or offer to the inmates. There is no formalised control with the NGOs, but if an event is of a recurring nature, prison staff will continuously asses the initiative as well as its participants.
Who is training the NGO representatives for work in prisons?Usually NGOs are responsible for training its own representatives. In rare cases the representatives are carrying keys to the prison and will therefore get a minor safety course conducted by the prison staff.
There is no contract between the penitentiary administrates and NGOs. A work of 'mailing' in the account of associations, is entrusted voluntarily to detainees, occasionally, depending on demand,
What normative acts in your country regulate prison and NGO cooperation?There are no normative acts that regulate the intervention of NGOs in the Prison establishment of Monaco. The normative acts stipulate the possibility for a detainee to carry out work for a third party.
Who is financing the events organised by NGO with the aim of reintegrating inmates or ex-inmates into society?The remuneration, for a work carried out by a detainee for a third party, will be assured by the latter. The monegasque state remunerates only jobs of general service.
Who is controlling the NGO participation in the inmates’ reintegration, including licensing resocialisation programs?Not applicable
Who is training the NGO representatives for work in prisons?The responsible persons of these associations are not trained to work in prison environment. Most often, they are visitors in prison.