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STEPS 2 Resettlement (Support for Transfer of European Prison Sentences towards Resettlement) aims to support the effective delivery of Framework Decision (FD) 2008/909/JHA (transfer of prisoners) by investigating and analysing the legal and practical obstacles that may hinder its implementation and execution in all Member States (MS). The project will assist in working towards the goal of common European standards of working effectively with offenders.
The partners of the project are listed below, each partner attends project board meetings and actively contributes to project reports and the final dissemination of project findings.
Dutch Custodial Institutions Agency (DJI), The Netherlands
The Dutch Custodial Institutions Agency hosted the first project board meeting in conjunction with EuroPris in The Hague. The Custodial Institutions Agency contributes to the safety of Dutch society by enforcing custodial sentences and measures and by offering the persons who have been put under our care the opportunity to build a socially acceptable life for themselves. The Ministry is responsible for delivering workstream 2:2 and the practitioner guidance for implementing FD 909. This includes developing a training package for practitioners and testing this in several EU Member States.
Research Institute for Social Development and Innovation (Romania)
Belgian Prison Service (Belgium)
The Belgian Prison Service is the largest entity within the Federal Public Service of Justice. In addition to a central administration and two training centres for prison staff, it consists of 35 correctional facilities, of which 17 are located in the Dutch-speaking part, 16 in the French-speaking part and two in Brussels. There is also a Forensic Psychiatric Centre in Ghent and soon to be another in Antwerp where inmates with a mental illness receive specialised care and treatment in a safe and secure environment. The Belgian Prison Service has an average inmate population of 11,000 and employs around 10,000 staff members.
The Belgian Prison Service guarantees a legally-conform, safe, humane and individualized execution of custodial sentences and measures with a view to an optimal return to society. The Belgian Prison Service stands for an innovative detention policy in which the detainee occupies a central place. Their detention model is based on a balance between dynamic and passive security whereby the rights and obligations of the inmates, as well as the prison staff and the integrity of all employees, is a guiding principle. The Belgian Prison Service is working in conjunction with Ghent University on workstream 4 of the STEPS2 Resettlement Project.
Confederation of European Probation (CEP), The Netherlands
CEP (Confederation of European Probation) is the European umbrella organisation for the probation sector. It aims to promote the social inclusion of offenders through community sanctions and measures such as probation, community service, mediation and conciliation. The organisation is committed to enhance the profile of probation and to improve professionalism in this field, on a national and a European level. CEP are the other communication lead for the project working with EuroPris to design the STEPS2 logo and website as well as being a facilitator for disseminating information about the project and it results to the Member States.
De Montfort University (UK)
The University is the lead partner for Workstream 3. De Montfort University is based in Leicester, UK and is a university of quality and distinctiveness, distinguished by their life-changing research, dynamic international partnerships, vibrant links with business and commitment to excellence in learning, teaching and the student experience. The Community and Criminal Justice division of the University undertakes research and training in all fields pertaining to criminal and community justice, such as probation work, policing, community safety, youth justice, work with victims of crime and multi-agency work.
EuroPris, The Netherlands
EuroPris (European Organisation of Prison and Correctional Services) is a non-political, non-governmental organisation that was founded at the end of 2011. National prison administrations from the Council of Europe region can become a members of the organisation. Currently EuroPris has 24 members. EuroPris is an organisation of and for European prison practitioners. It facilitates the exchange of knowledge and best practices between European Prison Services with the aim to improve public safety and security through improved detention standards and practice in Europe, through reduced re-offending and through advanced professionalism in the correctional field.
EuroPris participates in the project to support the dissemination and communication of the project activities and outcomes through their network within Europe. EuroPris also provides for links to activities outside of the project, that can be linked to the project contents. Examples are the EuroPris expert group on Framework Decision 909 and the expert group on Foreign National Prisoners. EuroPris is also responsible for the design, hosting and production of the STEPS2 Resettlement project website and logo. EuroPris hosted the first project board meeting in conjunction with the Ministry of Security and Justice in The Hague.
Ghent University (Belgium)
The University is the lead partner for Workstream 4 working under IRCP. Ghent University is one of the major Belgian universities counting over 41,000 students and 9,000 employees. With 11 faculties composed of 117 faculty departments. These departments offer more than 230 high-quality courses in every one of their scientific disciplines, each inspired by innovative research. Ghent University distinguishes itself as a socially committed and pluralistic university in a broad international perspective. IRCP (Institute for International Research on Criminal Policy) is a part of the University and is responsible for carrying out the research associated with the STEPS2 Resettlement project.
National Administration of Penitentiaries (Romania)
National Offender Management Service (NOMS), England and Wales
NOMS (National Offender Management Service) is the overall Project Lead as well as lead for Workstream 2 and hosted the second project board meeting in London. The National Offender Management Service is an executive agency of the Ministry of Justice, bringing together the headquarters of the National Probation Service and HM Prison Servicefr England and Wales to enable the more effective delivery of services. The two bodies remain distinct but have strong unity of purpose, this being to protect the public and reduce reoffending. Prison and probation services ensure the sentences of the courts are properly carried out, and work with offenders to tackle the cause of their offending behaviour.
University of Bucharest (Romania)
The University is the lead partner for Workstream 1, hosted one of the workshops for workstream 1 and will host the Final Conference in February 2016. The University of Bucharest is a leading academic centre and a significant point of reference in society, and it adheres to the principles of academic integrity and critical thinking. The University is one the leading higher education institutions in Romania and South-East Europe by actively contributing through research and teaching to the development and use of knowledge. The University’s main objective is to offer high-quality academic programmes and research facilities, and becoming a forefront of research and teaching. The University is an important academic institution part of a global intellectual community working towards protecting and reinforcing academic values, as well as towards promoting diversity and international collaboration. The University is one of the oldest institutions of higher education in Romania. In its 150 years of existence, the University of Bucharest has gained solid national and international prestige, being the first Romanian academic institution in the QS World University Rankings.
University of Huelva (Spain)
The University works in partnership with Huelva Prison and the University of Bucharest on workstream 1 and 2. The University hosted one workshop for the workstream 1 and the third board meeting for the project. The University of Huelva is a young dynamic institution, striving for excellence and a brilliant future for its 12,000 students. The University motto is Sapere Aude – Dare to Know in English. Since the university gained its independence from Seville University in 1993, it has continued to grow and now has a brand new campus with modern facilities and installations. The University is spread over four sites with the Faculties of Experimental Sciences, Law, Humanities, Education Sciences, Labour Sciences, the School of Nursing and the School of Social Work in the north of the city with state of the art computing facilities and the central library. A wide variety of Bachelor Degrees, Master and Doctorate Programs are offered by the University of Huelva, which also develops high-quality research, in the context of national and international projects.
Enhanced cooperation and mutual trust between Member States where there are high volumes of offenders trasnferred
Led by the University of Bucharest in partnership with the University of Huelva and University of Brescia.
This workstream aims to identify the obstacles and difficulties in the transfer process of foreign nationals to the executing state. To develop effective solutions that will aim to assist countries when transferring offenders. To build up a co-operation system between the Member States in order to facilitate the process. This co-operation system will be trialled between Romania and Italy, the UK, Spain and Catalonia and then recommendations based on this will be used to encourage all member states to undetake similar practices. This will culminate into a report on the problems and possible solutions.
Steps2 Resettlement Survey
Report: Social Rehabilitation Through the Prison Gate
Authors: Rob Canton, Nick Flynn, Joe Woods