Prison Achievement Award

At EuroPris, we annually celebrate the outstanding developments, challenges overcome, and innovative initiatives implemented in prisons across Europe. The Prison Achievement Award recognises and honors these exceptional practices.

Award Purpose

The Prison Achievement Award aims to highlight significant improvements within prisons that positively impact the prison community. 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, and digitalisation
• Better staff support and wellbeing
• Positive cultural changes

By bringing these initiatives into the spotlight, we facilitate mutual learning among European prison facilities and raise awareness of successful local solutions.

Selection Process

The award winner is selected by EuroPris members at the Annual General Meeting (AGM). A Selection Board, comprising 2-3 EuroPris Board Members and 1-2 international experts, reviews all eligible candidates. They shortlist five candidates, who are then presented in video and writing at the AGM.

Eligibility 

In order to be deemed eligible for consideration, your nomination should meet all of the following criteria: 

• European – Prisons from correctional services in the Council of Europe region.  
• Local – Significant development of a correctional facility at a local level, not a national prison service. 
• Impactful – Results should show improvement and impact in one or more clearly defined areas.  
• Sustainable – Results need to be possible to maintain over time, not a (temporary) project that ends with its funding. 
• Recent – Development must have been implemented in the last 5 years. 
• A New Departure – Change is 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.

Explore Past Award Editions

You can view the different editions of the Prison Achievement Awards below. Each page includes abstracts and short videos of the top five nominees, along with further information and details about that year’s award.

Join us in celebrating excellence and innovation in European prisons.