On 23rd May, EuroPris was invited to the plenary meeting of the Committee on the Operation of European Conventions on Co-operation in Criminal Matters (PC-OC) to present its European Prison Information System (EPIS). This system, which provides a base platform for the collection and dissemination of prison related information, continues to develop so that it can be utilised as source of data for a variety of purposes. Administrations seeking to repatriate a foreign inmate to his/her country of origin, must take into consideration recommendations made under the Convention on the Transfer of Sentenced Persons and EC Framework Decision 2008/909/JHA. In the context of conducting prisoner transfers there is no doubt a great deal of information is required by an authority. EPIS holding data on a number of European Prison Agencies, provides a base platform for the collection and dissemination of prison related information. Read more about the meeting here.
Training Workshop
EPIS & KMS
The EuroPris Knowledge Management System (KMS) allows organisations to contact EuroPris with a query or request for information. EuroPris will then send a note across its network to ask for responses to these by a specific date. Respondents will have access to all responses and can collate the information as applicable to them. This will also help to prevent the duplication of requests in future.
The Research and Statistics expert group’s work is instrumental to the development of The European Prison Information System (EPIS) that EuroPris is currently building. EPIS is designed to create a map of the European prison systems, holding information of interest and of value for the European prisons. The database allows a national agency to update the information on the website. Moreover, all the details gathered through KMS will be attached to the country’s organisational factfile.
To assist the work of the Research and Statistics Expert Group, EuroPris seeks the views from National Prison Agencies for their input on the research activities that should form the future work of the group
Supported by the knowledge and experience of the International Roundtable for Correctional Excellence the team will work in partnership to form and agree common data standards to enhance the sharing of meaningful and useful information. EuroPris openly welcomes the involvement of other interested parties who may conduct similar activities within the field to ensure alignment and understanding for the betterment of European corrections.
Expert Group meeting 2014
On 1 and 2 September 2014, EuroPris held the second meeting of the Research and Statistics Expert Group in Edinburgh, at the Scottish Prison Service headquarters. The group was comprised of representatives from 7 European National Agencies (Croatia, Finland, Ireland Netherlands, Romania, Scotland and Slovenia) and invited as an observer Roy Walmsley from the International Centre for Prison Studies.
The work of the Expert Group focused on the review, future developments and improvements of the European Prison Information System. Also, the group discussed future benchmarking exercises of EuroPris and a proposal for a hybrid/streamlined benchmarking exercise.
Expert Group Meeting 2013
On 2 and 3 September 2013 EuroPris has hosted its first expert group meeting on Research and Statistics in The Hague, comprising of representatives from six European National Prison Agencies (Croatia, Finland, Netherlands, Romania, Scotland and Slovenia). The aim of this new group is to work collaboratively to assist in the collection and dissemination of information to provide valuable information back to the National Prison Agencies across Europe.
Through engagement with prison services this group will determine areas of interest and value with the intention of collating and sharing this data among National Agencies to enhance clarity, understanding and transparency across the region.
Supported by the knowledge and experience of the International Roundtable for Correctional Excellence the team will work in partnership to form and agree common data standards to enhance the sharing of meaningful and useful information. EuroPris openly welcomes the involvement of other interested parties who may conduct similar activities within the field to ensure alignment and understanding for the betterment of European corrections.
Exercises will be introduced to gather data concerning input, throughput and output from each country that will provide for the benchmarking of key information across jurisdictions in order to improve the quality of detention.
A summary report of the Expert Group meeting can be downloaded here.