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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: According to the current legislation regulating conditions of the prison sentence in the Slovak Republic, the exit unit is defined as a unit where inmates who were imprisoned usually more than 3 years, are placed at a reasonable time (at least two months before release from the prison sentence) before the expected end of the prison sentence. The primary purpose of the exit unit is to help inmates with adaptation while creating favorable conditions for their independent life. Based on the above the exit unit is characterized by the mitigation of restrictions of imprisonment e.g. permission of phone calls without limitation; visits with close persons performed by direct contact, etc. Treatment program of inmates placed in exit units is focused on preparing to smooth transition into civil life and independent way of living after the prison sentence. In the treatment with inmates, an emphasis is placed in particular on: - counseling, training of social skills, work opportunities, - provision of necessary practical information from social life area (mainly sociable, legal area), - possibilities of further education, - possibilities of employing, - obtaining financial literacy, - implementing the activities focused on stressful situations related to release from the prison sentence.
We don’t have such units.
What conditions must be fulfilled for placement to such exit units/ similar units/ sections? Can every inmate be placed in such exit unit?We don’t have such units.
Who (what body – prison service/ court) decides on the placement of inmates in exit units/ similar units/ sections? Are persons placed in exit units /similar units /sections separated on the basis of selected criteria?We don’t have such units.
What are material-technical and space requirements of such units?We don’t have such units.
In what specifically is in exit units/ similar units/ sections mitigated regime in comparison with the standard execution of prison sentence?We don’t have such units.
Community reintegration is a key part of the Scottish Prison Service’s objective to reduce re-offending. Community Integration Units (CIUs) focus on those prisoners coming towards the end of their sentence who have been assessed as suitable to move to a unit that will provide the benefits of being nearer home, family, and offer the opportunity to engage with community partners and external services. The CIUs are located in a number of establishments across. The aim is to create effective community links for those in prison by offering a range of opportunities that will contribute to their progress towards returning home to family, appropriate social networks and lives that existed before custody. The ultimate aim of the Units is to reduce the risk of re-offending and prepare prisoners for reintegration back into the community. Consideration to progress to a CIU is on a case by case basis and criteria can vary, but generally speaking, the following requirements need to be met: • have Low Supervision status; • be free of Misconduct Reports, which resulted in an award greater than a caution, in the last three months; • be free to remain in UK on release; • not be an Appellant; • not have previously escaped or absconded from prison custody; • have no identified needs which cannot be met in the community; • have two negative drug tests within the past 3 months; • is within the specified period as per SPS Management Rule; • have a current Home Background Report; • have no adverse Police or SPS Intelligence; • have no Outstanding Charges, including Proceeds of Crime Orders. The CIU regime aims to: • build on progress made earlier in sentence; • provide progression towards greater community involvement; • address any identified needs as far as is possible; • make provision for contact with outside agencies; • with the support of external agencies, assist in providing, where possible and appropriate, housing and employment on release; • be directed and recorded through the Integrated Case Management Process. The purpose of CIUs is to: • concentrate on release and resettlement; • reduce the effects of institutionalisation; • require prisoners to explore, understand and exercise personal responsibility; • accord prisoners’ trust, based on effective risk assessment; • progressively tests prisoner’s capability to live independently and what that will look and feel like for them in the community; and • equip prisoners with the necessary life skills to return to the community with a lowered likelihood of recidivism and risk of harm. The CIUs have a multi-disciplinary approach to Case Management ensuring individual needs are aggregated in a meaningful and achievable way. A Directory of Services is available to all CIU prisoners outlining who, and what is available and how these Services can be accessed. Contact with an agency can be arranged via the Personal Officer. CIU’s have partnerships with a wide range of organisations such as: • Criminal Justice Social Work departments; • Job Centre Plus; • C.A.B. – APEX – SACRO; • Housing agencies; and • Addiction services Prisoners can be eligible for work placements which require Work Placement Agreements to be in place and signed by the establishment and all placement hosts. Agreements contain: • Disclosure of criminal record (prisoners’ written consent to disclosure of specified information on their criminal record specified persons must be obtained); • Protocols on confidentiality (where the employers is an agency, these must include what information is passed on to employers with whom the prisoner may be placed); • Approved hours of work and whether and how they can be varied; • Employer responsibility for health and safety and other matters. A full health and safety assessment will be undertaken by the establishment before each Placement commences; • Circumstances when the employer must inform the establishment of events, which must include absenteeism, poor time keeping or misconduct; • Circumstances where the establishment may withdraw or suspend release on temporary licence; • How the establishment will monitor the Placement, which must include both visits and telephone checks, proportionate to the risk assessment of the prisoner and the Placement; • The licence granted for community placement, work experience or further education only allows travel to and from the establishment to that specific site and return. Other activities are not permitted; and • Prisoners agreement to the terms and conditions of the placement.
What conditions must be fulfilled for placement to such exit units/ similar units/ sections? Can every inmate be placed in such exit unit?See Q1
Who (what body – prison service/ court) decides on the placement of inmates in exit units/ similar units/ sections? Are persons placed in exit units /similar units /sections separated on the basis of selected criteria?See Q1
What are material-technical and space requirements of such units?See Q1
In what specifically is in exit units/ similar units/ sections mitigated regime in comparison with the standard execution of prison sentence?See Q1
No exit units
What conditions must be fulfilled for placement to such exit units/ similar units/ sections? Can every inmate be placed in such exit unit? Who (what body – prison service/ court) decides on the placement of inmates in exit units/ similar units/ sections? Are persons placed in exit units /similar units /sections separated on the basis of selected criteria? What are material-technical and space requirements of such units? In what specifically is in exit units/ similar units/ sections mitigated regime in comparison with the standard execution of prison sentence?In Slovenian prison system as well as in legislation there is no such option of similar exit units. Our three regimes of serving prison sentence are closed, semi-open and open unit. In each of them the main focus is to prepare inmates for the conditions after release from prison sentence, especially three months before the release.
What conditions must be fulfilled for placement to such exit units/ similar units/ sections? Can every inmate be placed in such exit unit?For each unit special group composite of treatment and security staff decide if someone will be set in specific unit according to risk and needs assessment.
Who (what body – prison service/ court) decides on the placement of inmates in exit units/ similar units/ sections? Are persons placed in exit units /similar units /sections separated on the basis of selected criteria?N/A
What are material-technical and space requirements of such units?N/A
In what specifically is in exit units/ similar units/ sections mitigated regime in comparison with the standard execution of prison sentence?N/A
• There is no legislative requirement to provide exit units although some prisons do have a similar type of arrangement where prisoners are moved to a unit or wing within a prison that focuses on their resettlement needs. This might include being given advice and support on finding somewhere to live, getting a job and looking after money, as well as any support they need for health and social care. • The legislative requirement that is in place is that all prisoners will receive resettlement services during the last three months of their sentence. This service is known as ‘Though the Gate’ (TTG). • Since our reforms in 2014, resettlement services are provided by Community Rehabilitation Companies (CRCs) who are contractually required to co-ordinate release planning and deliver pre-release resettlement services. • The vast majority of prisoners will be released from resettlement prisons, where these CRC services are embedded, designated to their home area and will receive help with issues that will support their successful resettlement in the community by helping them build, repair and maintain family and community links. • Currently, we provide open prisons for men assessed to present a low risk of escape or abscond, and a low risk of harm to the public. There are currently 13 open prisons in the adult male estate in England and Wales, providing around 5,500 spaces, which is 6.8% of the overall adult male estate. • In addition, we are planning two new purpose-built closed resettlement prisons, each of which will hold about 1,700 men, and these will significantly increase the number of resettlement places. • We are currently reconfiguring the adult male prison estate to deliver a simplified estate with Reception, Training and Resettlement Prison functionality. Again, CRC resettlement services will be embedded at these sites. The population of Resettlement Prisons will include men serving a minimum of 28 days where serving short sentences, although many will spend between 4 and 24 months in resettlement, moving to resettlement prisons as they progress through their sentence from the training estate towards release.
What conditions must be fulfilled for placement to such exit units/ similar units/ sections? Can every inmate be placed in such exit unit?• All prisoners are automatically entitled to TTG resettlement services described above, in the last 12 weeks of their custody, whichever prison they are serving their sentence in. Open conditions • With certain exceptions, (for example, sexual or terrorism offences) most prisoners sentenced to less than 12 months must be considered for allocation to open conditions as soon as possible after sentencing, subject to a requirement that they spend a minimum of seven days in closed conditions. • Prisoners are regularly assessed throughout their sentence to determine whether they are suitable for open conditions. • We aim to hold prisoners in the lowest possible security category consistent with preventing escape or risk to the public or to the security of the prison. Resettlement Prisons • Following reconfiguration, Resettlement Prisons will resettle men who have transferred directly from Reception Prisons (including men who have been recalled to prison) and also men who have spent time in Training Prisons. • The overarching aim of a Resettlement Prison is to prepare an individual for release and to resettle them into the community through maintaining or improving family ties, providing them a rehabilitative environment, including access to local community services.
Who (what body – prison service/ court) decides on the placement of inmates in exit units/ similar units/ sections? Are persons placed in exit units /similar units /sections separated on the basis of selected criteria?• All prisoners are automatically entitled to resettlement services, whichever prison they are serving their sentence in. Open conditions • To determine whether someone is suitable for open conditions, assessments are carried out by the Offender Supervisor in prison, in liaison with the Probation Officer in the community. These assessments are based on previous convictions, prisoner’s security files, risk assessments, probation reports and custodial records. • Regular reviews are carried out; these may be every 6–12 months, depending on sentence length and type. It is an open process: prisoners can see their reports and there is a right to appeal. • The initial categorisation process takes place following conviction and sentencing and assesses the prisoner’s risks in terms of likelihood of escape or abscond, the risk of harm to the public in the event of an escape or abscond, and any significant control issues or personal circumstances which may affect the categorisation decision. • Recategorisation takes place at regular prescribed intervals or whenever there has been a significant change in the prisoner’s circumstances affecting security requirements. Recategorisation assesses the extent to which the prisoner’s risk may have changed sufficient to warrant a change in security category. Resettlement Prisons • As part of reconfiguration, we have developed new national offender flows and an allocation protocol, which mean men will spend longer in the resettlement phase of their sentence than currently, whether in open or closed prisons. Progression to a Resettlement Prison is based on a prisoner’s sentence type and length, individual needs and risks. In the case of high-risk prisoners, it may not be appropriate for them to move to a resettlement prison, in which case the TTG service will be provided where they are located.
What are material-technical and space requirements of such units?• In open prisons, prisoners may not be locked in their cells, and there is less perimeter security than in closed prisons. Prisoners, with pre-agreed permission, may leave the prison unsupervised to seek employment, attend training and work opportunities, visit family and friends, and attend community appointments, subject to individual risk assessments. • In closed prisons, prisoners may be locked in their cells and there is more stringent perimeter security. • In closed prisons, prisoners may only leave for specific reasons (such as attending court, hospital appointments, family funerals) and they will be supervised by prison officers. • The new-build Resettlement Prisons, which will be closed, will create ‘spurs’ of 20 men in ‘house blocks’ of 60 men. Moving away from wings and galleries will create smaller communities, with access to kitchen facilities, exercise suites and a group room. Each man’s room will contain a toilet, shower, TV and internet capability to help increase autonomy.
In what specifically is in exit units/ similar units/ sections mitigated regime in comparison with the standard execution of prison sentence?Open/resettlement estate • In resettlement and open prisons, the emphasis is on preparing prisoners to reintegrate into the community. This preparation will vary from person to person, but will include access to quality resettlement services, such as TTG, which helps people to organise accommodation, benefits, training, employment, legal services, medication, and social and medical care. • People in open and closed Resettlement Prisons are also eligible to be assessed for early release on a Home Detention Curfew, which means being released to a pre-approved address, adhering to licence conditions, including a curfew, and being electronically monitored. • People in open/resettlement conditions may also access Release on Temporary Licence, which can be used to attend employment and training and to build, repair and maintain family and community links. Temporary release includes day release so that people can go on a course or visit family members; it also includes overnight release so they can stay at their release address for one or more nights, in preparation for leaving prison. • The principle of ‘closeness to home’ applies to Resettlement Prisons, meaning the vast majority of men will find it easier to build and maintain links with family, pro-social friends and the wider community prior to release. There are a range of initiatives that can be used by Resettlement Prisons, such as homework clubs where children can visit after school. Training estate • This differs to the services provided, for example in Training Prisons, where the focus will be on providing services, activities and interventions designed to address prisoner needs and risks. • People will not necessarily spend time in a prison near to home; rather, they will be sent to an establishment that can best address their identified needs and risks. This might include being sent to a prison designed for specialist cohorts, such as for men convicted of sexual offences, or for foreign national offenders who are of interest to the Home Office (that is, who may be deported after completing their sentence). • As well as training and risk-related needs, prisoners may also have other varying needs; for example, they may need support with a learning disability, they may need help to address substance abuse, or they may need help to improve relationships. • As they near the end of their sentence, prisoners will move to resettlement/open prisons, according to their assessment. Attachments: • To support prisons in understanding their population and delivering their new function following reconfiguration, we have developed a series of Models for Operational Delivery (MODs). • We attach a copy of the MOD for Resettlement Prisons, along with the data and evidence pack that underpins it, and an overview document. You are welcome to publish these on your website, too. • We also have six other MODs available, one each for: Reception Prisons, Training Prisons, Older Prisoners, Young Adults, Foreign Nationals, and Men Convicted of Sexual Offences. Click on the link to view all the MODs: https://www.europris.org/file/models-for-operational-delivery-mod-data-pack-2017-2018/
Attachments:
NIPS do have 2 main areas Burren & Foyleview that would be described as the most advanced areas within a progressive regime where prisoners are released from.
What conditions must be fulfilled for placement to such exit units/ similar units/ sections? Can every inmate be placed in such exit unit?Variety of conditions must be fulfilled for placement. These include * Must have engaged successfully in a programme of temporary releases which included overnight stays. * No record of bullying within the last 2 years * No disciplinary awards in the preceding 12 months. * No history of breached / failures of Temporary Release. In the event of this not being the case, a decision will be made by the multi-disciplinary team based on individual merits of the case.
Who (what body – prison service/ court) decides on the placement of inmates in exit units/ similar units/ sections? Are persons placed in exit units /similar units /sections separated on the basis of selected criteria?Placement is subject to meeting the criteria and either as the result of requesting same by prisoner, being recommended by a case conference or by PCNI recommendations. Placement is then subject to a progression dossier being signed off.
What are material-technical and space requirements of such units? In what specifically is in exit units/ similar units/ sections mitigated regime in comparison with the standard execution of prison sentence?The pre-release scheme consists of 3 phases. The length of time spent on each phase will be individual tailored to suit each prisoner taking into consideration custodial category and risk. Phase 1 (2-4weeks) - Will be used to prepare and help individuals secure employment Phase 2 (6-9months) - Commence work during the day, after which they return to the Unit and reside their each evening, Monday to Thursday. After work on Fridays they are granted temporary release, if suitable, for the weekend and return directly to work on the following Monday. Phase 3 (6-9months) - If an individual has progressed to Phase 3 they will be permitted to reside and work full time in the community. They will report to the Pre-release Unit once a fortnight and will be interviewed by staff to ascertain how they are coping. This is a time for them to raise any problems or concerns that have occurred whilst in the community setting. Prior to the end of Phase 3, reports are required form the Offender Supervisor / Probation. These reports will be an assessment of the individual’s time in the community and assist when making a recommendation on suitability for release.
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Yes, in two of four prisons there are exit units. Irrespective of this, from the first day of imprisonment the sentence plan is oriented to the release and reintegration in all prisons.
What conditions must be fulfilled for placement to such exit units/ similar units/ sections? Can every inmate be placed in such exit unit?Within the framework of the sentence plan, the need for action and assistance for the reintegration of each prisoner is raised. Should this requirement be particularly high, the transfer to an exit unit will be initiated as part of the sentence plan. In principle, every prisoner - regardless of offense or penalty time - can be transferred to an exit unit.
Who (what body – prison service/ court) decides on the placement of inmates in exit units/ similar units/ sections? Are persons placed in exit units /similar units /sections separated on the basis of selected criteria?The enforcement staff decides on the placement in exit units. There is no further separation of prisoners within the exit unit.
What are material-technical and space requirements of such units?There are no different requirements compared to the other departments.
In what specifically is in exit units/ similar units/ sections mitigated regime in comparison with the standard execution of prison sentence?The in all departments in principle existing possiblilities of execution easing (e.g. es-corted exits for government visits or housing inspections) are particulary used in the exít units. Furthermore, the staff is particulary experienced in dealing with institutions outside the prison and in the reintegration.
There is no legislative requirement for the provision of 'Exit Units' or regulated similar facilities in this jurisdiction.
What conditions must be fulfilled for placement to such exit units/ similar units/ sections? Can every inmate be placed in such exit unit?Not Applicable
Who (what body – prison service/ court) decides on the placement of inmates in exit units/ similar units/ sections? Are persons placed in exit units /similar units /sections separated on the basis of selected criteria?Not Applicable
What are material-technical and space requirements of such units?Not Applicable
In what specifically is in exit units/ similar units/ sections mitigated regime in comparison with the standard execution of prison sentence?Not Applicable
In Finland prisons are either closed or open. About one third (1 January 2018: 33%) of the prisoners are in open prisons. A prisoner can be placed directly to an open prison or she/he can be transferred to spend end part of the sentence there. A prisoner can also be placed to serve the end part of the sentence in probationary liberty under supervision, from closed prison and open prison alike. Probationary liberty is supervised electronically. The prisoner lives at home, she/he is under an obligation to take part in activities and the area of movement is defined.
What conditions must be fulfilled for placement to such exit units/ similar units/ sections? Can every inmate be placed in such exit unit?Placement to an open prison is based on individual consideration. The requirement is that the prisoner assessed to stay in the prison and be suitable for the activities. In principle all prisoners have possibility to be admitted to an open prison at least for the end part of their sentence even those who are serving life sentence. Prisoners affiliated to organized crime are not placed in an open prison. Prisoners placed in an open prison have to commit to abstinence from drugs and alcohol. Substance use is controlled with tests.
Who (what body – prison service/ court) decides on the placement of inmates in exit units/ similar units/ sections? Are persons placed in exit units /similar units /sections separated on the basis of selected criteria?The Assessment Centres (3 in Finland) make the placement decisions, also concerning placement to open prisons. The requirements are defined in law: suitability, motivation, readiness to comply, and abstinence.
What are material-technical and space requirements of such units?Open prison do not have walls around them. Room doors are open and the prisoners have keys to their own room (the staff has keys to all rooms). In many cases the prisoners make their own food. Open prisons have facilities for work and other activities even though part of the prisoners take part in activities outside the prison. There are fewer guards than in closed prisons. If an open prison is situated in urban area the prisoners may be monitored electronically.
In what specifically is in exit units/ similar units/ sections mitigated regime in comparison with the standard execution of prison sentence?The prisoners are allowed to possess money and other instrument of payment. They get more easily a permission to take part in activities and services outside the prison. The use internet and telephone is less restricted than in closed prisons.
Attachments:
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In order to prepare for release, prisoners are enouraged, throughout the entire prison sentence, to maintain relationships with family, contact with government bodies, institutions and organizations and individuals engaged in assistance to the prisoner for the best possible integration into life in freedom. Penitentiary/prison, intensifies, no later than three months before the expiration of the sentence, the process of involving the prisoner in individual or collective counseling work regarding his preparation for release. During the consultation, the prisoners are introduced with their rights and obligations that they have after the expiration of the sentence. They get acquainted with the rights they can achieve at social welfare centers, are advised to actively engage in job search when they are released, and encourages them to behave responsibly. During this period, in larger penitentiary or prisons, inmates are placed in a special receiving-and-dismissal unit, while in smaller prisons they are accommodated in special rooms.
What conditions must be fulfilled for placement to such exit units/ similar units/ sections? Can every inmate be placed in such exit unit?There are no special conditions. In the criminal authorities where there are such divisions, prisoners usually stay three months before the dismissal.
Who (what body – prison service/ court) decides on the placement of inmates in exit units/ similar units/ sections? Are persons placed in exit units /similar units /sections separated on the basis of selected criteria?The prison manager decides on the proposal of the Professional Team of Prison. Prisoners accommodated on the receiving -and- dismissal unit are not separated from each other on the basis of certain criteria.
What are material-technical and space requirements of such units?/
In what specifically is in exit units/ similar units/ sections mitigated regime in comparison with the standard execution of prison sentence?The regime in the receiving-and-dissmisal units does not differ from that in the other prisons/ penitentiaries, but usually inmates who are near to the release date from serving a sentence (independently, whether they are placed in the receiving-and-dissmisal units or in other departments in prison ) they use a greater range of outfit benefits, for the purpose of preparing postpenal acceptance .
In some remand prisons in Italy, specific wings have been established for inmates who are going to be released. In the female prison of Rome there is an exit wing dedicated to imprisoned women close to their release.
What conditions must be fulfilled for placement to such exit units/ similar units/ sections? Can every inmate be placed in such exit unit?In the exit wings, there are prisoners with a remaining sentence to serve up to one year. In particular, they are prisoners belonging to the “medium security” category, who demonstrated their commitment in the rehabilitation program drafted for them. Further exclusion criteria are: having been convicted for crimes of mafia association, terrorism, kidnapping for ransom; having undergone the special surveillance regime provided for by article 14-b of the Italian Penitentiary Act; having received disciplinary sanctions; suffering from psychiatric illnesses; being in health conditions needing special medical care or assistance
Who (what body – prison service/ court) decides on the placement of inmates in exit units/ similar units/ sections? Are persons placed in exit units /similar units /sections separated on the basis of selected criteria?The prison governor identifies the prisoners who fulfill the requirements to be assigned in the exit wings.
What are material-technical and space requirements of such units?Our exit units do not have many places. They include multiple cells, of a size complying with the surface requirements set by the European Court of Human Rights
In what specifically is in exit units/ similar units/ sections mitigated regime in comparison with the standard execution of prison sentence?In terms of article 88 of the Regulations of Enforcement of the Italian Penitentiary Act, the exit units can be characterized by open cells, with the aim of encouraging, as far as possible, the inmates to stay outside their cells during the day. In those wings, treatment activities are developed for a real social reintegration of prisoners upon release: visits to inmates from their families can be organized also exploiting outdoor areas in the prison and additional visits can authorized beyond the usual limits set by the law; contacts with volunteers or with the community members can be increased; inmates can be assigned, also on a shift basis, to work activities with the aim of providing them an amount of money useful for their release. In many Italian prisons, there are information desks, intended to support prisoners, in the few months prior to their release, providing them with information, counseling for job-placement and psychological support. In Turin, for instance, the NGO “Consorzio Abele Lavoro” carried out several projects between 2008 and 2012 through the “prison desks” dedicated to prisoners at the end of their sentence as well as to offenders undergoing community sanctions and measures, involving them in vocational training courses and including them into social cooperatives or in business companies. Similarly, in some Lombardia cities, specific information desks were established for inmates upon release and for released inmates on matters such as housing, job-placement, care of family relations, urgent issues, legal advice. Said desks were funded by various bank foundations and the Lombardia Regional Administration and were developed by various cooperatives and associations. Upon inmates’ release from some prisons, a small concrete action has been carried out: the released prisoners were provided with a survival kit for their days in the free community. Such experience was carried out in various cities (Turin, Rome, Milan, Florence, etc.) and provided for a standard kit composed of: one bag, a city map, directions to access services; local transport tickets. In some cases, a ticket lunch was offered, too. Third-sector associations, in cooperation with prisons and local bodies carried out said service.