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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 is conducting a study on the integration of prisoners into the labor market after serving their prison sentences. We are interested to learn about the experience of other countries regarding the development of soft skills and transferable skills during the resocialization process. Taking into account the above mentioned, the Latvian Prison Administration would be grateful to receive answers from EuroPris members to the following questions:
Yes, mainly digital skills, reading encouragement and social skills.
If participation in soft and transferable skills trainings is ensured only for specific groups of prisoners, what factors or criteria would indicate on the necessity to participate in such type of trainings? What is pre-inclusion assessment for soft and tDepending on availability, activities are offered to all penitentiary population.
Please indicate main skills that prisoners acquire after soft and transferable skills trainings?Answered before.
Is formal effectiveness assessment of the soft and transferable skills trainings performed on a regular basis by your organization and how is it done?Yes, it is organized through specific and periodically programmes.
Is participation in soft and transferable skills trainings considered as part of formal learning process and is treated the same as participation in professional education/learning programs or courses?Yes.
If possible, could you please provide the contact details of someone in the system who can be asked more in-depth questions on this topic?Europris contact.
Yes. Several activities are avalible in the field of education, vocational training and behavioral programmes.
If participation in soft and transferable skills trainings is ensured only for specific groups of prisoners, what factors or criteria would indicate on the necessity to participate in such type of trainings? What is pre-inclusion assessment for soft and tAll inmates are able to participate in most of the skill training. An assessment of the social and personal need are made for most inmates. This gives the motivation and the coordination to the time spent in the correctional facilities. We pay attention to inmates own motivation and goals to give the best options. We also cooperate with the outside agencies, since many inmates have close relations from before incarceration. This is meant to continue after release. Rehabilative work can never be done by the correctional service alone. We must collaborate with communities, health service, employment service,etc etc. Some of the training is aimed for certain crime-types, and is available for just these groups on inmates. F.ex sexual abusers, drug abusers.
Please indicate main skills that prisoners acquire after soft and transferable skills trainings?They might achieve a personal devolpment of self esteem, more responible as a social participant, feeling included- not excluded. Thinking skills. They might achieve skills needed to get a job, Exams from schools giving them competence and oportunities to achieve jobs, They might respect others more than being individual minded. They might change friends to be less infuenced in a criminal mindset.
Is formal effectiveness assessment of the soft and transferable skills trainings performed on a regular basis by your organization and how is it done?Some of the programmes are aimed to be delivered in a certain way,with a described purpos. There are assessed and evaluated. There are research done internally in the correctional service, as well as from multiple reasearch milieus. Other soft skills like education or vocational and work training shows through reseasch that it is effective. Effetivness is a term which also includes a better life, personal competence and respect, as well as reduced risk of crime.
Is participation in soft and transferable skills trainings considered as part of formal learning process and is treated the same as participation in professional education/learning programs or courses?Yes.
If possible, could you please provide the contact details of someone in the system who can be asked more in-depth questions on this topic?The Directorate of Norwegian Correctional Services.
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Prison education is not mandatory in prisons in England for adults (18+) but prisoners are encouraged to engage in education that is right for them based around previous achievement and their personal goals. Prison governors must commission a core curriculum of English, maths, digital skills and English for Speakers of other Languages. In addition, they have the flexibility to commission the education provision they consider right for their prison based on the needs of their prisoners and local employers. Prisoners have the opportunity to undertake a variety of work (often paid) in prisons, for example in prison workshops which offer a variety of trades, or in areas such as laundry, kitchens or waste management, and can earn qualifications while working. Prisoners also have access to work coaches who can provide individual support to prisoners on finding work on release. I am including a link to our Prison Strategy White Paper which sets out our short and longer-term prison education ambitions.
If participation in soft and transferable skills trainings is ensured only for specific groups of prisoners, what factors or criteria would indicate on the necessity to participate in such type of trainings? What is pre-inclusion assessment for soft and tCurrently we are only tracking soft (employability) skills in workshops/industries. These can be captured in classroom also, but it is not mandatory. It is expected that this will expand to include all areas of work over the coming year. Education providers capture the development of soft skills (known as ‘employability skills’) through Individual Learning Plans.
Please indicate main skills that prisoners acquire after soft and transferable skills trainings?We aren’t issuing training per se- rather, the learners work towards improving their soft skills with support from their Instructional Officers where required. This has always happened within workshops, as it is conductive to a productive environment- it is just now being measured. I am attaching a document which sets out information about our top ten employability skills
Is formal effectiveness assessment of the soft and transferable skills trainings performed on a regular basis by your organization and how is it done?We have asked the Instructional Officers in some prisons to capture information once every month for each employability skill. This only impacts the new digital assessment process, not Progress In Workshops booklets (see attached). In all other prisons ‘Progress in Workshops’ booklets are the paper based interim solution whilst awaiting the launch of the digital process. These have been launched across the estate and are supported by training for Industries staff. There will be an evaluation of the process in April as prisons return to full regime delivery following Covid.
Is participation in soft and transferable skills trainings considered as part of formal learning process and is treated the same as participation in professional education/learning programs or courses?This is a wider ambition, to bring Skills and Work into Education and make it more formally recognised. Education providers recognise the development of soft skills within the Individual Learner Plans
If possible, could you please provide the contact details of someone in the system who can be asked more in-depth questions on this topic?Happy to provide on request.
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At the moment, soft skills and transferable skills trainings are not insured for prisoners during the imprisonment. However, there are several attempts to initiate such trainings, namely, within the Therapeutic Community in Penitentiary nr. 9 and as an optional Social Therapy Program for the prisoners wishing to become familiar with the digital world in Penitentiary No. 1-Taraclia.
If participation in soft and transferable skills trainings is ensured only for specific groups of prisoners, what factors or criteria would indicate on the necessity to participate in such type of trainings? What is pre-inclusion assessment for soft and tThe group of prisoners who participated in such courses have been selected according to their preferences. But at the same time, an important criterion in selecting participants in such program would be the remaining term for serving sentence. These skills are necessary for those who will soon release from detention.
Please indicate main skills that prisoners acquire after soft and transferable skills trainings?Following these courses, the main competencies that can be acquired are: 1. The correct way to use the computerized technique; 2. Creating, reading and editing various documents; 3. General skills in using Microsoft Office; 4. Ability to use memory cards; 5. Use of advanced web browsing techniques; 6. Knowledge in the process of sending e-mails;
Is formal effectiveness assessment of the soft and transferable skills trainings performed on a regular basis by your organization and how is it done?Following these trainings, the competences of each participant were assessed by giving them a graduation degree. An assessment of the effectiveness of soft and transferable skills training shall not be carried out.
Is participation in soft and transferable skills trainings considered as part of formal learning process and is treated the same as participation in professional education/learning programs or courses?No.
If possible, could you please provide the contact details of someone in the system who can be asked more in-depth questions on this topic?373 22 615539- Natalia Hîncu
The national project “Chance for Return” is implemented by the General Directorate of the Corps of Prison and Court Guard and 10 partners consisting of remand prisons and prisons, in cooperation with the Central Office of Labour, Social Affairs and Family of the Slovak Republic. The eligible period is from October 2018 to September 2022. The project is realized thanks to the support of the European Social Fund and the European Regional Development Fund as a part of the Operational Program of Human Resources. The project partners are following: the Central Office of Labour, Social Affairs and Family, Prison Banská Bystrica - Kráľová, Remand Prison and Prison Košice, Prison Hrnčiarovce nad Parnou, Remand Prison and Prison Ilava, Prison Košice - Šaca, Prison and Remand Prison Leopoldov, Prison Nitra - Chrenová, Remand Prison and Prison Prešov, Prison for juveniles Sučany a Prison Želiezovce. The implementation of the project is mainly in the so called exit units. Conditions and space for the intensive personal development are created for convicts though information and counselling services, resocialization and edifying education programs and self-service activities. The emphasis is placed mainly on counselling, training of social skills, career (ability to find a job) and increasing the intensity of the contact with social environment supporting an effective resocialization (e.g. family, community, employer, etc.) and proactive behaviour.
If participation in soft and transferable skills trainings is ensured only for specific groups of prisoners, what factors or criteria would indicate on the necessity to participate in such type of trainings? What is pre-inclusion assessment for soft and tThe sorting mechanism dedicated to sorting purposes – placement of convicted persons to the exit unit. The aim of setting up the basic framework of the sorting mechanism is to place convicts to the exist unit: - in terms of his abilities and possibilities of social inclusion, - in terms of reintegration to the labour market and the prediction of social failure (risk of reoffending), - in terms of identification of the “risk“ group for further work, - so that in the process of assessing the conditions for the placement of the convict, an obligatory basic criteria for placement or displacement of the convict to/from the exit unit were respected.
Please indicate main skills that prisoners acquire after soft and transferable skills trainings?The main resocialization and edifying education program which is informative and preventive, is focused on the following areas: - social communication which will facilitate the development of communication skills of the convict, - self-knowledge has the role in helping the convict to get know himself, to name (express) his thoughts, feelings, emotions, weaknesses and strengths, to get understand “Who am I?, What kind of person am I?” and similar, - career/employment should facilitate the reintegration of a person to the labour market after release from the prison sentence and to eliminate the risk of crime recidivism, to create preconditions for proactive approach of convicts in the resocialization process, - legal aspects should increase the legal literacy of the convict in selected areas accentuating “daily legal routine” (out of criminal law) and no less important task is to ensure that the individuals should built a positive attitude towards the law, - financial literacy is orientated towards ensuring that, depending on mental capabilities and the term of the prison sentence execution, the convicts will achieve, renew or deepen the knowledge and skills in the area of financial literacy, with the aim of their continuous qualitative development, - addictions create preventive barriers for convicts from the risk of getting addicted and they are also dealing with aspects of recovery process of addicted convicts in aftercare process out the prison sentence execution, - family relations support the meaning of family for reintegration of the convict to the life. Specialised, resocialization and edifying education programs are aimed at convicts for which were identified the need to undergo such program. Individual programs are thematically focused on key risk factors of crime recidivism, such as employment, substance and non-substance addictions, family and relations, financial literacy, violence, radicalisation and extremism and similar.
Is formal effectiveness assessment of the soft and transferable skills trainings performed on a regular basis by your organization and how is it done?Yes, the evaluation is performed within the implementation of the national project “Chance for Return” in the basic resocialization and edifying education program in 4 modules (career, legal aspects, financial literacy, addictions). Each convict included in the program shall fill in a knowledge test at the beginning and at the end of the program, then the results of these tests are compared by the specialised staff. The staff determines the effectivity of the education and skills gained on the basis of the results.
Is participation in soft and transferable skills trainings considered as part of formal learning process and is treated the same as participation in professional education/learning programs or courses?Yes, the main aim of the national project „Chance for Return“ is to decrease the risk of social exclusion and to increase competences when applying for job within the labour market of persons who had served the prison sentence.
If possible, could you please provide the contact details of someone in the system who can be asked more in-depth questions on this topic?Contact: JUDr. Jakub Ľorko, PhD., Chief Project Manager of the national project Chance for Return, General Directorate of the Corps of Prison and Court Guard ([email protected], tel+421/2/208 31 832)
Besides of education on secondary, high school and academy level The Danish Prison and Probation Service offers the following low-skilled training for adults: AMU - Adult Vocational Training Program activities with focus on anger management and violence prevention. FVU, OBU Literacy and numeracy courses Intro FGU – Training for young adult that of different personal, social or professional reasons has not gone the straight path towards youth education and jobs.
If participation in soft and transferable skills trainings is ensured only for specific groups of prisoners, what factors or criteria would indicate on the necessity to participate in such type of trainings? What is pre-inclusion assessment for soft and tAMU – for all prisoners Program Activities – after assessment of prisoners in the target group. FVU, OBU Literacy and numeracy courses – compulsory assessment and interview guides provided by the Ministry of Education ensures the skills level. Intro FGU – is in preparation.
Please indicate main skills that prisoners acquire after soft and transferable skills trainings?AMU - Bus driver license, EU directive bus, EU directive goods, Dangerous goods, Crane, Driving technique, Warehouse logistic, Truck Driver license, Truck certificate, Workplace health and safety, Concrete and formwork, Contractor machinery, Sewer paths Leveling, Scaffolding and working platforms, Telescopic loader, Welding, Hygiene, Kitchen, Cleaning, Food processing, Chain Saw, Asphalt Program Activities – courses to understand anger and reduce anger and violence. FVU, OBU – OBU is literacy education. FVU is a brush up for adults with poor secondary education aimed to use math and reading and writing in everyday life and work. FGU - The purpose is to provide students with the knowledge, skills, abilities, clarification and motivation to complete a youth education or alternatively to obtain unskilled employment. It focus on vocational training and citizenship.
Is formal effectiveness assessment of the soft and transferable skills trainings performed on a regular basis by your organization and how is it done?AMU - Prisoners in open prisons can after certain rules take part in courses outside the prison if they meet certain criteria. Many AMU courses are organized with the providers in prison and prisoners can volunteer to take part. Progam Activites are offered in all prisons. FVU, OBU is offered in all prisons FVU is tested in selected prisons to find the best model for the prison system. It is expected to be implemented in all prisons.
Is participation in soft and transferable skills trainings considered as part of formal learning process and is treated the same as participation in professional education/learning programs or courses?The schools in the prison system are regular adult education centers under auspices of the Ministry of Education and must follow national law. Educations such as AMU is organized as private public cooperation
If possible, could you please provide the contact details of someone in the system who can be asked more in-depth questions on this topic?-
The Lithuanian penitentiary system has an approved "Social Skills Development Programme for Inmates". The programme is designed to improve the social skills of inmates and enable them to integrate more effectively into society after release. The programme is based on the categorization of social skills. According to this classification, the Programme consists of 3 main modules: module 1 - "Relationship with myself"; module 2 - "Relationship with others"; module 3 - "Relationship with activities". Educational programmes for training of communication skills and emotion management, stress management, personal behaviour modification, anger management, emotion identification and management, and encouraging positive thinking are being implemented in penitentiary institutions. Moreover, there are legal and social education programmes for inmates soon to be released and parenting skills training.
If participation in soft and transferable skills trainings is ensured only for specific groups of prisoners, what factors or criteria would indicate on the necessity to participate in such type of trainings? What is pre-inclusion assessment for soft and tProgrammes are selected for an inmate in line with an Individual Social Rehabilitation Plan (ISRP), which is based on the results of risk assessment and the identified criminal risk factors.
Please indicate main skills that prisoners acquire after soft and transferable skills trainings?Inmates acquire or develop the following skills: self-awareness, self-knowledge, expressing one's feelings; expressing one's needs, establishing and maintaining relationships with others, asking for help, etc.
Is formal effectiveness assessment of the soft and transferable skills trainings performed on a regular basis by your organization and how is it done?No
Is participation in soft and transferable skills trainings considered as part of formal learning process and is treated the same as participation in professional education/learning programs or courses?No
If possible, could you please provide the contact details of someone in the system who can be asked more in-depth questions on this topic?The Flemish government has the responsibility to offer education and trainings in answer to the needs of the prisoners in the prisons of Flanders and Brussels. There are different organisations who have funds to organise this inside prisons. So, in relation to this funds and the posibilities inside prison, there are trainings for soft skills and transferable skills for prisoners.
If participation in soft and transferable skills trainings is ensured only for specific groups of prisoners, what factors or criteria would indicate on the necessity to participate in such type of trainings? What is pre-inclusion assessment for soft and t(A part of the question is missing). Here a list of possible criteria - Language (knowledge of the Dutch language) - Approval of the prison director - Criminal record - Referral by the social services inside prison - By explicit question of the prisoner self
Please indicate main skills that prisoners acquire after soft and transferable skills trainings?- (self)awareness - Making choices and carry out - learning - communication - dealing with information - Acting in a independant way - collaboration
Is formal effectiveness assessment of the soft and transferable skills trainings performed on a regular basis by your organization and how is it done?No effectiveness assesment is done. There is a general evaluation after the training by the trainer and by the prisoners. But this is immediatly after the training. This is an evaluation, not an assessment.
Is participation in soft and transferable skills trainings considered as part of formal learning process and is treated the same as participation in professional education/learning programs or courses?Sometimes, these trainings are organised by schools and there is a certification of the soft skills in the end. For example: communication training. This is not always the case. In other formal education programs there’s automaticaly a training on soft skills included. For example: working together with other inmate students in class on a specific task. So then it is part of the formal class, but the soft skills will not be certificated. But soft skill training is absolutely a part of the formal learning process.
If possible, could you please provide the contact details of someone in the system who can be asked more in-depth questions on this topic?Yes. In Austrian Prisons, several soft and transferable skills are offered. The trainings reflect the reintegration into labour market but also provide useful tools for personal development.
If participation in soft and transferable skills trainings is ensured only for specific groups of prisoners, what factors or criteria would indicate on the necessity to participate in such type of trainings? What is pre-inclusion assessment for soft and tTo participate in such trainings the prisoner should have basic knowledge about the German language to understand the content and communicate within the group about the specific topic. The selection of prisoners is made either by the pedagogue or the prison staff responsible for training units. Nevertheless, the prisoner’s consent and behaviour are necessary conditions to join such trainings.
Please indicate main skills that prisoners acquire after soft and transferable skills trainings?Prisoners acquire skills in the personal development. They gain knowledge about how to promote for a job or practice job interviews. Furthermore, prisoners have access to e-learning programmes, which enable them to gain PC-skills, and many other educational subjects. However, not only job trainings are taught in prisons. Soft skills such as reading easily comprehensible news, knowledge on health and hygienic issues but also values are important skills, which can be achieved in workshops and lectures during imprisonment.
Is formal effectiveness assessment of the soft and transferable skills trainings performed on a regular basis by your organization and how is it done?Assessments about the effectiveness of such trainings are made either by prison staff responsible for training units, prisoners themselves by giving (anonymous written or oral) feedback after the training or organizations who are carrying out such soft skill trainings.
Is participation in soft and transferable skills trainings considered as part of formal learning process and is treated the same as participation in professional education/learning programs or courses?Yes, it is.
If possible, could you please provide the contact details of someone in the system who can be asked more in-depth questions on this topic?Please contact the Directorate General for the Administration of Custodial Sanctions and Measures involving Deprivation of Liberty in the Federal Ministry of Justice via the indiacted EuroPris contacts.
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