At EuroPris, we annually celebrate outstanding developments, challenges overcome, and innovative initiatives implemented in local prisons across Europe. The Prison Achievement Award recognises and honours that enhance prison services and operations. Through our engagement with services, there have been many excellent examples and innovations which have been implemented in recent years. For this reason, EuroPris would like to award European prisons by giving it the ‘Prison Achievement Award’. This is your chance to share your experience with the wider European prisons arena in the years to come.

Given that work takes place behind walls and rarely gets the public attention it deserves, we believe an annual award will help highlight and shine a spotlight on your prisons’ success and achievements.

Award Purpose

The Prison Achievement Award aims to highlight significant, wide-ranging improvements within regional prisons that positively impact the prison community. By bringing these initiatives into the spotlight, we facilitate mutual learning among European prison facilities and raise awareness of how prisons come up with solutions that will unite our network. Examples of such achievements include and are not limited to: 

• Enhanced prisoner regimes
• Increased access and participation in education
• Improved cooperation with external services and stakeholders
• Advancements in healthcare, care, and reintegration pathways
• Innovative upgrades in buildings, infrastructure, sustainability and digitalisation
• Managing difficult or vulnerable groups
• Better staff support, training and well-being
• Positive cultural changes

Selection Process

After reviewing applications coming from across Europe, a Selection Board selects the Top 5 candidates. The Selection Board consists of 2-3 EuroPris Board members and 1-2 international experts.

The videos of the five shortlisted candidates will be presented at the 15th EuroPris Annual General Meeting (AGM) on 02 June 2026 in Valletta, Malta. There, the Director Generals vote on a final winner, awarding a trophy to the winning prison facility. 

Eligibility

Your nomination is only deemed eligible if it meets all of the following criteria:

• European: Prisons from correctional services in the Council of Europe region.
• Local: Efforts initiated by a prison facility at a regional/local level (not the national prison service).
• Recent: Efforts must have been implemented in the last 5 years.
• Impactful: Tangible results that show impact in one or more clearly defined areas.
• Sustainable: Long-term results (not a temporary project that ends with its funding).
• Innovative: Efforts are unique, original, or highly innovative.

Award Presentations

The Director General of the country of the awarded prison will receive the Prison Achievement Award at the AGM, representing the winning prison. The trophy is dedicated to the local prison, recognising the prison where the initiative was developed and implemented.