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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:
Prison Labour is organized and managed by an autonomous State Organization (Prison Labour Management Service) which is embedded in the structure of the Prison Service. All Costs and Revenues of Prison Labour are treated by this organization. There are multiple types of Prison Labor Possible: - Workshops for own-production (wood- and metal workshops, farms, bookbinding, printing office, bakery, dressmaking,… ) where production is focused mainly on products for the prisons and other governmental organizations. Managed by the Prison Labor Management Service; - Workshops for external contractors where production is made for external companies. Managed by the Prison Labor Management Service; - Household Services : detainees are payed to work inside the prison (cleaning service, laundry, kitchen, …). Managed by the Prison Authorities. (So, financially this organization is independent from the prison service and management wise this organization overlaps for a large part with the Prison Service).
The activity performed by inmates in workshops is considered labour or educational activity?The activity is considered as labour and is remunerated as such (varies from 1 – 2,4 € /hr). Vocational training is considered as education. The detainees receive for this a small incentive (approx. 0,62 €/hr).
The products resulted in these workshops are to be used only in the prison, in the prison system or they can be sold externally?The products of the workshops can be sold to all types of clients.
Which are the benefits inmates obtain for their labour performed within the respective workshops?The only benefit the detainees obtain from working in a prison Workshop is a salary (1 – 2,4€/hr). In some cases work is combined with vocational training for which the detainee receives a diploma. Sentence reduction and other types of rewards and incentives are not given in Belgium.
Are there regulations in the national legislation concerning incentives granted by the State to employers for the employment of inmates?All incentives and types of prison labor are regulated by National Legislation.
Special Remarks or CommentsThe catalan Department of Justice entrusted CIRE, Centre d’Iniciatives per a la Reinserció, with the social and labour reintegration of inmates. So, CIRE is the public body that eases social and labour inclusion of inmates serving a sentence by offering them vocational training and paid productive work in prison.
The activity performed by inmates in workshops is considered labour or educational activity?It is considered labour and that’s why inmates earn a salary but we also consider that our workshops must be designed as individual reintegration pathways for inmates.
The products resulted in these workshops are to be used only in the prison, in the prison system or they can be sold externally?All options are possible. Some of the products resulted in our workshops are being used in the prison system (penitentiary beds, food) but a lot of them are sold externally. In fact, we offer outsourcing solutions in order to promote the growth of the Catalan industry. Also the most important business associations, chambers of commerce and trade unions do collaborate with CIRE and work together to break away from the stereotype of prison and to connect it to the working world.
Which are the benefits inmates obtain for their labour performed within the respective workshops?Inmates acquire labour habits and professional competences as well as they are trained in trades in high demand in the ordinary market. Inmates are globally monitorized by Cire for active research of job offers in order to multiply their reintegration possibilities.
Are there regulations in the national legislation concerning incentives granted by the State to employers for the employment of inmates?No, there aren’t specific incentives for exoffenders.
Special Remarks or CommentsThis content is only available to registered members of EuroPris.
In Denmark the Prison Industry is financed entirely by the state as a part of the total grant for the Prison and Probation Service. The employment is placed in workshops where the surroundings are as similar to private companies as possible. In Denmark the state prisons and the local prisons each have an operation grant for the Prison Industry. The grant is a net sum grant, which means that the prison can keep the profit for a better result than stipulated in advance. Normally the prisons use that kind of money to consolidate the industry with new machines or repairing the buildings. Prisons with good production machinery and good products have to earn a certain profit and other prisons are allowed to have a negative result. The operation grant goes hand in hand with a plan of occupation of the inmates according to which, the prisons must occupy the inmates in a number of hours stipulated in advance. The Prison Industry employ app. 1.150 inmates (app. 30% of the total numbers of inmates) and 200 work instructors are supervising the work. The working instructors are both educated within their branch as well as prison officers. The Prison Industry has a turnover of app. 100 million DKR (13 million €) a year. Approximately half of the production is managed, marketed and sold by the central administration in the department. The other half is managed and sold by the state prisons and the local prisons. Products and services for app. 40 million DKR are sold to governmental agencies – the main part of it being sold to institutions under the Prison and Probation Service. All products and services are calculated and sold to normal market price, as the Prison Industry is not allowed unfair competitive practices. To prevent the unfair competition, a permanent council was established many years ago with members from employer- and worker organizations, members of Parliament and the Prison and Probation Service. The council meets regularly (twice a year) to discuss the way in which the prison productions are performed.
The activity performed by inmates in workshops is considered labour or educational activity?During the employment the most of the inmates are developing basic skills (get up in the morning, work together with others, responsibility etc.), and the final product is in a way the outcome of that process. In the last years there has been a special focus on vocational training and -education. The vocational training is an integrated part of the ordinary work in the workshop in both prison industry and intern service. The work instructors has a teachers role during the courses. The activity can be anything from a short term course to a craft's apprenticeship – trainee or just practical experience in a factory as a beginning of a long-term education. It is possible to get diploma for only 1 day course - but normaly the courses is run 1 -, 2 - and up to 20 weeks. App. 400 inmates are given vocational education with diploma yearly.
The products resulted in these workshops are to be used only in the prison, in the prison system or they can be sold externally?The products is sold both internally and externally. Prison Industry has its own website www.krimprod.dk , where any customer can downloade cataloges and watch a short film showing the activities. The state prisons and local prisons has a cooparation with app. 300 private companies in the local area.
Which are the benefits inmates obtain for their labour performed within the respective workshops?Inmates serving a sentence have a duty of employment; remand prisoners have a right, but not a duty to work. Inmates must be employed for 37 hours a week and receive wages. The hourly wage is app. 1 ½ €. The amount has been fixed on the basis of the amount that a recipient of social security would typically have left over, after payment of fixed expenses for food and housing. The inmates do not pay taxes of their income. The duty of employment can be full filled by participating in treatment programmes, by traditional adult education or by work.
Are there regulations in the national legislation concerning incentives granted by the State to employers for the employment of inmates?No - there is not any special regulations in the national regislation. All cooparation is made by normal market basic. Many companies has cooparation with prison and probation service as a part of the social cooperate responsibillity program - just like they have for activities concerning other vulnerable citizens in the country.
Special Remarks or CommentsWorkshops in prisons in England and Wales are Organized and Financed centrally through Public Sector Prison Industries Group. Public Sector Prison Industries is organised into sector teams Engineering, Textiles, Woodwork, Printing, Food Packing, Office Furniture, Plastic Injection Moulding and Contract Services (contract packing and fulfilment). The work for the workshops is 'loaded' into the prisons by the sector team leaders based at Headquarters. The workshops operate to service level agreements agreed with the central team; at the beginning of the financial year, to manufacture goods. The workshops including the Instructional Officers who supervise the prisoners are managed locally by the Governor.
The activity performed by inmates in workshops is considered labour or educational activity?The activity is considered as work although prisoners are afforded the opportunity to study towards sector specific National Vocational Qualifications which are delivered through the Education provider.
The products resulted in these workshops are to be used only in the prison, in the prison system or they can be sold externally?The majority of the products manufactured in prisons in England and Wales are for internal use. Some of these products are sold to other states for use in their prisons. We also service a number of external commercial contracts with private companies and provide some products for HM Armed Forces and other Government Departments.
Which are the benefits inmates obtain for their labour performed within the respective workshops?Prisoners are able to earn wages to spend in the prison shop and as set out above they can gain sector specific vocational qualifications.
Are there regulations in the national legislation concerning incentives granted by the State to employers for the employment of inmates?No
Special Remarks or CommentsThe work performed in the Finnish prisons is part of the rehabilitation of the prisoner. The productivity of this work is evaluated based on both the percentage of participating inmates and on the economic return. The work activities are implemented in an economically reasonable and practical way and so that the work mobilizes as many prisoners as possible. The prison can organize work activities either inside the prison in property management, at the prison farm in agriculture and forestry, in manufacturing products to sell for private consumers or to businesses, or by outsourcing the work activities by exploiting work offers outside the prison. The work done in the prison is part of the other activities the prison offers and completely organized and managed by the prison. In addition, the open prisons can offer work opportunities outside the prison. The open prison can make contract with a governmental actor or with a municipality, a congregation or an association of public utility to employ prisoners in jobs outside the prison. These contracts are financially supported by the state and the work is organized in cooperation with the prison and the actor offering the work. The parties define in the contract how the organization, management and the financing of the work will be handled further.
The activity performed by inmates in workshops is considered labour or educational activity?The work in prisons is either occupational work maintaining the working skills of the prisoner and promoting his/her employment or rehabilitative work improving the working ability and readiness of the prisoner. If work is part of the prisoners education, apprenticeship or vocational course, the work is seen as rehabilitative. Otherwise, working in the prison workshop in the prison workshop, e.g. metal workshop or wood workshop, is classified as occupational work.
The products resulted in these workshops are to be used only in the prison, in the prison system or they can be sold externally?The prison workshop products can be made either for the prisons own use, custom-made for private consumers, sold to private customers in prison product outlets or sold to industry or businesses.
Which are the benefits inmates obtain for their labour performed within the respective workshops?The prisoners get either an activity allowance or a salary for the work they do. In a closed prison the activity allowance for work or other activities the prisoners participate in is 0.70-1.20 euros per hour based on the degree of complexity, the regularity and the duration of the activity and the prisoners' personal performance. In an open prison an activity allowance will be paid for rehabilitative work and a salary for occupational work. If the prisoner is working inside the prison workshops the salary is 4.10-4.50 euros per hour. If the prisoner is working for an outside employer, his/her salary is 6-7.30 euros per hour. The higher salaries are paid if the complexity and heaviness of the work and the occupational skills and work performance of the prisoner so demand.
Are there regulations in the national legislation concerning incentives granted by the State to employers for the employment of inmates?The prisoners working in the prison workshops are employed by the prison and the expenses of this work are taken from the budget of the prison. In addition, the open prisons can apply for a state appropriation for the work done with the outside employers. The purpose of this state appropriation is to employ prisoners and to restore cultural historically valuable property. Most of the appropriation is reserved for the state owned projects but part of it can be used in projects of the municipalities, congregations or associations of public utility. These projects need to be either cultural historically valuable or the work projects has to include rehabilitative activities, and these expenses have to be shared with the employer.
Special Remarks or CommentsWorkshops are centrally funded by the Irish Prison Service and function in 14 different prison establishments. 340 work and training officers (prison officers with specific training and qualifications in trades) deliver this training to prisoners under the management of Industrial Managers, normally one in each prison. Regular reviews and audits of the workshops are initiated to establish prisoner engagement and any training or resource needs. Close liaison is maintained with external accreditors and resettlement services to ensure the skills and qualifications being delivered are relevant to the job market's needs. The goal of the work training function is to provide accredited training wherever possible.
The activity performed by inmates in workshops is considered labour or educational activity?The activity is considered as prisoner training. Some of the outputs from workshops are sometimes donated to charities.
The products resulted in these workshops are to be used only in the prison, in the prison system or they can be sold externally?Please see above. Items produced can sometimes be retained by the prisoner.
Which are the benefits inmates obtain for their labour performed within the respective workshops?The development of soft skills, such as improved interpersonal skills, more self confidence, improved literacy and numeracy. Prisoners can also achieve qualifications in certain trades which will enhance employment prospects.
Are there regulations in the national legislation concerning incentives granted by the State to employers for the employment of inmates?No, but state agencies will usually prioritise those prisoners just released from custody in the context of state payments or places on training courses.
Special Remarks or CommentsAccording to the Section 61.1 of the Sentence Execution Code of Latvia (hereinafter – Code), the process of resocialisation of convicted persons sentenced with deprivation of liberty (hereinafter – resocialisation of convicted persons) is an aggregate of social behaviour correction and social rehabilitation measures aimed at promoting lawful behaviour of the convicted person and forming his or her understanding of socially positive values. Section 61.2 of the Code “Resocialisation Measures of Convicted Persons” states that resocialisation of convicted persons shall be implemented by applying the measures of correcting the social behaviour of convicted persons or social rehabilitation. Resocialisation measures of convicted persons shall be applied individually or by means of group work according to the type of deprivation of liberty institution, the imposed sentence execution regime and assessment of the risks and needs of the convicted person. In section 61.3 of the Code social rehabilitation measures are defined, including, organisation of leisure time events – involvement of the convicted person in cultural, informative, art, amateur and sports events. According to Sections 29 and 31 of Chapter 6 of the Regulations No.423 of the Cabinet of Ministers of May 30, 2006 “Internal rules of Penitentiary institution”: 29. To carry out the education tasks for inmates according to the forms of educational work – intellectual, ethical, esthetical, physical education and education based on work , individual and group mentoring measures are organized - classes in formal and informal education programs, resocialisation programs, discussions/interviews and consultations, sport games and applied art lessons. 31. The administration of place of imprisonment encourages and manages the creative initiatives of inmates. Inmates can use their own musical instruments, raw materials and tools in the making of artistic and applied art goods, as well as other objects that are necessary for the implementation of other creative initiatives of inmates. The procedure of the storage and use of these objects are determined by the Chief of the place of imprisonment.
The activity performed by inmates in workshops is considered labour or educational activity?The activities performed by inmates in workshops are not regarded as either labour or educational activities. They are free time activities.
The products resulted in these workshops are to be used only in the prison, in the prison system or they can be sold externally?Inmates buy the raw materials themselves. They can receive the materials with permission from the chief of the place of imprisonment. Inmate can pass their creations to his/her relatives after submitting a written application to the Chief of the place of imprisonment. If inmates are employed by a comersant (e.g. making souvenirs), comersant supplies inmates with raw materials. The comersant receives the production. Inmates receive previously negotiated wage.
Which are the benefits inmates obtain for their labour performed within the respective workshops?Inmates can spend their free time usefully. They can improve or acquire new skills. Having the inmate participate in workshops and their attitude towards the assigned work is taken into account when the question about adjustment of the penal regime or conditional release before the end of the sentence is evaluated. Inmate can receive wage if they are employed by a comersant. Inmate’s inclusion in cultural, informative, art, amateur and sport events is regarded as social rehabilitation measures.
Are there regulations in the national legislation concerning incentives granted by the State to employers for the employment of inmates?Place of imprisonment can offer to rent the necessary premises for a lower price than what it is outside the place of imprisonment.
Special Remarks or CommentsEach prison and remand prison is responsible for the own prison workshops and the financial results, but we have organised a kind of franchise formula on national scale, called In-Made (www.in-made.nl). We present ourselves on the market as one company with 26 local workshops. Staff is financed by DJI and for production the prisons have to made a "profit" of 7 mln euro together. 65% of the prisoners can work 20 hours a week in the workshops; 10% can work in the household. The other hours are for education, training/therapy, sport, visit, library, etc. We have the goal to sell 80% of the working hours. Most prison find it hard to fill all the chairs in the workshops.
The activity performed by inmates in workshops is considered labour or educational activity?The activities are mainly considered as labour. Of course there is instruction and training. And for motivated prisoners is the possibility to follow courses beside the labour time. 80% of the workshops we do assembling, pachaging and recycling for commercial clients. The rest is metal work, wood and textile. People who get vocational training can do their practical assignments during working hours. In the Netherlands the average prisoner stays 90 days, so that's why we have such a great amout of simple work.
The products resulted in these workshops are to be used only in the prison, in the prison system or they can be sold externally?We make products (business tot business). We don't sell our products to private persons. We make also products for de prison system and other parts of the government (army). (beds, matrasses, cupboards, celldoors, cellinventory, linen, etc. Some private webshops sell our products as In-Made products.
Which are the benefits inmates obtain for their labour performed within the respective workshops?Financial benefits are €15,20 per week for 20 hours work with a bonus of maximum 100% Other benefits are vacational raining, more interesting work and work outside the prison.
Are there regulations in the national legislation concerning incentives granted by the State to employers for the employment of inmates?No, there are incentives for the employment of people with a long distance to the labour market. What most prisoners are.
Special Remarks or CommentsThere are 17 prison workshops in Poland. The founding body of them is the Minister of Justice, a direct control is performed by the Director General of Prison Service. The workshops are independent, self-financing institutions. Their objective is effective implementation of economic function and creation of workplaces for inmates.
The activity performed by inmates in workshops is considered labour or educational activity?It is considered labour.
The products resulted in these workshops are to be used only in the prison, in the prison system or they can be sold externally?The products can be sold to prison service institutions, ministries but also externally. Prison Service and other state agencies are not obliged to buy the products of prison workshops.
Which are the benefits inmates obtain for their labour performed within the respective workshops?Working inmates obtain the salary. They have an opportunity to get or develop professional qualifications. After a year of work the inmate has a right to 14-day paid holidays. During the holidays the inmate has a right to additional or longer visit, additional purchase of food products and tobacco products, longer walks, the priority or more frequent participation in cultural activities.
Are there regulations in the national legislation concerning incentives granted by the State to employers for the employment of inmates?Employers for the employment of inmates are able to receive tax relief, co-financing, loans and grants.
Special Remarks or CommentsThe Scottish Prison Service (SPS) has 13 prisons, each of which have workshops which provide 'purposeful activity' for prisoners. Prison staff operate these workshops which are financed by the SPS. The range of opportunities in any prison is largely dependent upon the skillset of the SPS staff in any prison. The SPS is currently exploring ways in which to increase the involvement of external organisations in the delivery of skills and training in these workshops, such as commercial businesses and other training organisations.
The activity performed by inmates in workshops is considered labour or educational activity?As noted above, the SPS seeks to deliver activities which are 'purposeful' in skilling up and making prisoners more 'job ready' on release from custody. It is appreciated that prisoners have a range of skills and abilities. As a result some workshops are more work related than educational. However, wherever possible, learning opportunities are 'imbedded' in prisoners' work (e.g vocational qualifications) in order to increase their skills base and hopefully assist in them becoming more competitive on the employment market.
The products resulted in these workshops are to be used only in the prison, in the prison system or they can be sold externally?Where 'production' workshops exist across the SPS these may make goods either for internal SPS use (e.g cell furniture) or for sale to external businesses (e.g. garden furniture).
Which are the benefits inmates obtain for their labour performed within the respective workshops?As referred to above, wherever possible, the SPS aims to ensure that work undertaken by prisoners across Scotland is 'purposeful' in that it should provide an opportunity for prisoners to develop their skills, work experience and qualifications in order to increase their employability on return into the community. Prisoners who attend workshops are paid a basic wage to help meet the costs of items (tobacco, confectionery, etc) purchased whilst in prison.
Are there regulations in the national legislation concerning incentives granted by the State to employers for the employment of inmates?Not universally. However there are specific initiatives in respect of the employment of young people (aged 16 - 24) which provide an allowance for the employment of ex-offenders (and other groups such as care leavers and disabled people) for a defined period of time.
Special Remarks or Comments