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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: A group of persons sentenced for life imprisonment represents 0.7 % of the total prison population of convicted persons in Slovakia. These are only 61 adult males who are sentenced for violent and sexually motivated crimes. Seventeen percent of this number are convicted males who were founders or members of organized criminal groups. In present, for lifers we ensure treatment in individual forms such as interviews and counselling, but also in groups in forms of social-psychology training groups, work with therapeutic cards, groups with elements of expressive therapies, sessions with psychologist and various interest groups. However, when ensuring their treatment, there is still an absence of a standardized medical, intervention or therapeutical program aimed at a crime or their personality. The convicts sentenced for life imprisonment can request for a conditional release after serving 25 years of the punishment. The court decides about the conditional release based on an assessment of the convict to the proceeding about conditional release, which is prepared by the prison and sent to a competent court. The content of assessment of the convict represents a demonstration of his improvement/reformation during the present prison sentence execution. This assessment contains the process from the admission to the prison sentence execution until the moment the request is decided. When making decision, the court also assesses the forecast prognosis of leading a proper life after the release and providing such guarantee from the side of the convict. Nowadays, the Corps of Prison and Court Guard of the Slovak Republic has been seeking for innovation and development of the rehabilitation system of persons sentenced for life imprisonment, including the establishment of parole commissions. Members of these commissions originating from various departments, would participate in assessing the level of rehabilitation of lifers and thus also in the possibility of their release. For this reason, we would like to kindly ask you to share with us your experiences and good practice in the mentioned areas.
We are working to offer it in the future. These type of sentences are very recent in Spain.
Do you have any parole commissions or other advisory boards dedicated for assessing the possibility of conditional release of persons sentenced for life imprisonment?Not specifically ones.
In Croatia, there is no sentence of life imprisonment.
Do you have any parole commissions or other advisory boards dedicated for assessing the possibility of conditional release of persons sentenced for life imprisonment?----
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In the Belgian judicial and penal system all people convicted to a custodial sentence are eligible for parole. People convicted to a life sentence are no exception. They have access to the same intervention programs as other inmates, leave, conditional release etc. are a theoretical possibility and the inmate can apply if he chooses to do so
Do you have any parole commissions or other advisory boards dedicated for assessing the possibility of conditional release of persons sentenced for life imprisonment?Their case is examined by the same courts as those who examine applications of other convicted persons, no exceptions. Whether or not the inmates is granted his conditional release depends on the individual case and whether or the legal requirements are met or not (no contra-indications)
In 2019, the Violence Reduction Program (Audrey Gordon, Stephen Wong, 2000, 2009-2014) (hereinafter – the programme) has been taken over as part of the European Social Fund project “Increasing the Efficiency of the Resocialisation System” No. 9.1.3.0/16/I/001. In 2022, it is planned to introduce the programme for approbation and implementation in prisons (including – for persons sentenced to life imprisonment). Also, two risk assessment tools have been adopted: the Violence Risk Scale (VRS) (Stephen C.P.Wong, Audrey Gordon) and the Violence Risk Scale (VRS-SO) (sex offender version, Stephen C.P. Wong, Mark Olver, Terry Nikolaichuk, Audrey Gordon). Currently, the previously mentioned tools are being tested. Information on the programme and risk assessment tools VRS, VRS-SO may be found on the developer’s website www.psynergy.ca.
Do you have any parole commissions or other advisory boards dedicated for assessing the possibility of conditional release of persons sentenced for life imprisonment?The court decides on the early release of a person sentenced to life imprisonment. The conditional early release from punishment shall not be applied if the punishment has been imposed on an adult for a particularly serious crime committed against a person under the age of sixteen, involving sexual abuse. A convicted person shall submit the submission requesting conditional early release from serving the sentence to the Head of the prison. If a convicted person meets the conditions for initiating a conditional early release (has actually served the imposed part of the sentence, or one year has passed after the sentence – placement in a punishment or disciplinary isolation cell – for the violation of the sentence serving regime, or six months have passed since the imposition of another punishment provided for in the Sentence Execution Code Of Latvia (hereinafter – the Code) for the violation of the sentence serving regime) and corresponds to another criteria stated by the Criminal Law and the Code), Head of the prison shall send the request for an evaluation report to the State Probation Service, stating whether the convicted person requests to evaluate the possibility of his or her conditional early release from serving the sentence, and requests and official of the prison to prepare a statement on the progress of executing the sentence. The statement on the progress of executing the sentence of the person sentenced to life imprisonment shall include information characterising the behaviour of the convicted person, involvement in resocialisation measures and resocialisation results, his or her attitude towards participation in resocialisation measures throughout the entire term of serving the sentence. The information is added regarding the mental health of the convicted person, if psychiatric assistance has been provided to the convicted person, and an extract from the co-operation report of the psychologist. The Head of the prison shall send the person's sentenced to life imprisonment submission, evaluation report of the State Probation Service, statement on the progress of executing the sentence and submission of the prison for conditional early release of a convicted person from serving the sentence to a court. A person sentenced to life imprisonment may apply for the conditional early release from: 1) the highest level of the sentence serving regime in a separate closed prison unit; 2) the highest level of the sentence serving regime in a closed prison; 3) the highest level of sentence serving regime in partly-closed prison. A person sentenced to life imprisonment starts serving the sentence at the lowest level of the sentence serving regime in a separate closed prison unit. With the decision taken by the evaluation committee, a person sentenced to life imprisonment may be transferred: 1) from the lowest level of the sentence serving regime in a separate closed prison unit to the highest level of the sentence serving regime in a separate closed prison unit – after at least 7 years of serving the sentence; 2) from the highest level of the sentence serving regime in a separate closed prison unit to the common flow – the highest level of the sentence serving regime in a closed prison – after at least 10 years of serving the sentence; 3) from the highest level of the sentence serving regime in a closed prison to the highest level of the sentence serving regime in a partly-closed prison – after at least 17 years of serving the sentence.
SPPS offers the same medical service, the same rehabilitation programs as well as possibilies to study for all clients in prison in Sweden. The clients criminogenic needs will guide SPPS in which intervention to offer.
Do you have any parole commissions or other advisory boards dedicated for assessing the possibility of conditional release of persons sentenced for life imprisonment?Clients who serve liftime imprisonment can after ten years in prison apply to the disctrict court of Örebro for a fixed term scentence.
Persons sentenced to life imprisonment are offered the same social rehabilitation programs as the general prison population: behavior modification programs, social skills training and positive employment measures, assistance in handling personal and social problems, psychological support, and individual or group psychological therapy. Medical programs for the prison population, persons sentenced to life imprisonment included, are organized by the Ministry of Health.
Do you have any parole commissions or other advisory boards dedicated for assessing the possibility of conditional release of persons sentenced for life imprisonment?The Code on the Enforcement of Sentences of the Republic of Lithuania stipulates that persons sentenced to life imprisonment are eligible for early/ conditional release. However, once an inmate has served 20 years of life sentence, a life sentence may be commuted to a fixed-term sentence. Should the court take a decision to commute a life sentence to a fixed-term sentence an inmate becomes eligible for early/ conditional release. Each correctional establishment has a Parole Commission which assesses the possibility of conditional release. A positive decision taken by a Parole Commission should be approved by court. Commissions are set up of 7 members for the period of 2 years. The Commission shall include employees of the Prison Department, employees of correctional establishments, probation officers, at least two representatives and/or volunteers of associations or religious communities, other natural and legal persons.
The main goal in the organization of health care in territorial services of General Directorate „Execution of Sentences” is to ensure equal access of inmates to medical care and specialists in medical institutions outside the places of deprivation of liberty guaranteed by the package of health services of the National Health Insurance Fund and National Framework Agreement. The quality of medical care provided to inmates (including the life sentenced people) corresponds to the medical standards and the rules for good medical practice approved by the Minister of Health. In pursuance of „Agreement for implementation of joint activities of HIV, AIDS, tuberculosis and viral hepatitis prevention“ between the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Justice in the places of deprivation of liberty are fulfilled the following medical programs: “National Program for Prevention and Control of HIV and sexually transmitted infections in the Republic of Bulgaria, 2021-2025”; “National Program for Prevention and Control of tuberculosis in the Republic of Bulgaria, 2021-2025”; “National Program for Prevention and Control of viral hepatitis in the Republic of Bulgaria, 2021-2025”. According to Article 215 of the Rules for Application of the Law on Execution of Sentences and Detention, the work with life sentenced inmates complies with the national standards approved by General Director of the General Directorate „Execution of Sentences“. They aim to outline the main guidelines, which the prison administration applies while respecting the rights of life sentenced convicts and approving an effective model for treatment, guaranteeing specific support for their physical and mental health, as well as defense of the officers, other convicts and society after their release. Because of the long period of serving the sentence, the life sentenced convicts are faced in front of more difficulties, concerning their social adaptation. This imposes the applied measures to be in compliance with the Bulgarian and international standards, as well as to help the pro-social influence and the keeping of the personality. Upon entering prison with „life sentence“, every life sentenced convict is included in an adaptation program directed to support for acceptance of the reality, creation of a sense for perspective, promotion of the self-help, support of social contacts, stimulation of their participation in different activities, neutralization of depressive and psychosomatic symptoms. The prison administration is obliged to ensure possibilities of every life-sentenced convict in the adaptation period to discuss with the team implementing the adaptation program questions related to the process of execution of the sentence, conditions of accommodation, possibilities for change of their status (change of the regime, taking out in common areas, possibilities for participation in collective events, inclusion in work activity) and to assist for solving personal problems. If possible, the treatment of life sentenced includes convenient job, training, development of social skills and habits, correctional activities, programs for conduction of physical and mental health, religious support, access to library, participation in cultural information and sports events according to the regime and specificity of the conditions in the respective prison. The type, the dimension and the organization of these activities are determined and conducted taking into account and complying with the requirements for protection and security of life sentenced. Every life sentenced has right of psychological help, according to specific needs. Life sentenced are promoted to sustain and to strengthen their contacts with relatives and friends, representatives of different institutions, non-governmental organizations and external specialists, which have positive influence of resocialization. The question about pardon is of exceptional competence of the President of the Republic of Bulgaria consistent with Article 98, item 11 of the Constitution of the Republic of Bulgaria. According to Article 74 of the Criminal Code is specified that the President can totally or partially remit the imposed sentence through pardon, and the life sentence without parole and life sentence to remit or to replace.
Do you have any parole commissions or other advisory boards dedicated for assessing the possibility of conditional release of persons sentenced for life imprisonment?This content is only available to registered members of EuroPris.
This content is only available to registered members of EuroPris.
In Austria, for every inmate with a sentence higher than 18 months a sentence/case planning is set up (§ 135 StVG). There is generally no difference in treatment between inmates with a lifelong sentence and inmates with lower sentences. According to § 135 StVG, the head of the prison has to determine how the sentence has to be carried out within the framework established by the provisions of the National Penal Law and according to the prisoner’s classification. A multiprofessional team – called Fachteam – is responsible for the content of the inmates’ sentence planning (measures, interventions, work, education, treatments, etc.); the head of the prison takes the final decisions. All decisions are documented electronically. This individual sentence planning is reviewed, supplemented, modified and updated at a regular basis or when required, (e.g. inmate is making an application or in case of disciplinary sanctions).
Do you have any parole commissions or other advisory boards dedicated for assessing the possibility of conditional release of persons sentenced for life imprisonment?In Austria, inmates with lifelong sentences can request for a conditional release for the first time after 15 years of punishment. The prisons have to give all documents, statements and reports leaning on the individual sentence planning to the responsible judge. These reports of the prison include the expert opinion of the specialized staff of the prison (social workers, psychologists, psychiatrist, and psychotherapists) regarding therapies, housing and social environment, work as well as the treatments, which have taken place inside the prison. The release management of inmates with lifelong sentences happens in close cooperation with the probation service and, if required, with other institutions.
People convicted to a life sentence have access to the same activities and rehabilitation programs as other inmates. We have 12 programs, for target groups: Sexual offenders (2); Drunk drivers (1); Domestic violent offenders (1); Addicted offenders (2); Offenders with low social skills (1); Violent offenders (2); Convicted women (1); Juvenile offenders (2).
Do you have any parole commissions or other advisory boards dedicated for assessing the possibility of conditional release of persons sentenced for life imprisonment?There are no special commissions or other advisory boards dedicated for assessing the possibility of conditional release of persons sentenced for life imprisonment. There are no differences between a prisoner who is sentenced for life or not. A person sentenced to life imprisonment may be released on parole by a court if the offender has actually served at least twenty-five years of the sentence.
We offer a range of services for prisoners which include medical, intervention and rehabilitative. We do not retain specific interventions purely based on their sentence however, services offered are based on an assessment of need.
Do you have any parole commissions or other advisory boards dedicated for assessing the possibility of conditional release of persons sentenced for life imprisonment?Indeterminate sentenced prisoners when sentenced will receive a tariff, which is set by the Sentencing Judge. This is the minimum term that the prisoner must serve in prison. Her Majesty’s Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS) are responsible for calculating the indeterminate sentenced prisoners tariff expiry date, which is the date that their tariff, which was set by the sentencing Judge, expires. All indeterminate sentenced prisoners will have their suitability for release considered for the first time by the Parole Board no later than their tariff expiry date. Where the Parole Board decide not to release the prisoner, the prisoner’s suitability for release must be considered at least every two years thereafter. The Parole Board is an independent body that carries out risk assessments on prisoners to determine whether they can be safely released into the community. It was established in 1968 under the Criminal Justice Act 1967 and became an independent executive non-departmental public body on 1 July 1996 under the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994. The Parole Board’s primary role is to determine whether prisoners serving indeterminate sentences, and those serving certain determinate sentences for serious offences, continue to represent a significant risk to the public.
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