Norway contributes more than 20 million EUR to the reform of the penitentiary system in Lithuania
Thepenitentiary system in Lithuania is being reformed in line with the Norwegian model by substantially modifying staff training, education, competence building practices and the resocialisation of offenders. The aim is to develop a system of staff competence building that will ensure the successful integration of offenders into society during their sentence term and after release.
The project aimed to improve the quality of the Lithuanian penitentiary system is implemented by the Prison Department under the Ministry of Justice of the Republic of Lithuania. A joint project with Norwegian partners, implemented from August 2020 through April 2024, has been awarded more than 20.5 million EUR from EEA and Norwegian Financial Mechanisms programme Justice and Home Affairs 2014-2021. The Central Project Management Agency (CPMA) supervises the Project implementation.
According to Mr Česlovas Jocius, Adviser to the Prison Department, the project will contribute to restructuring the Lithuanian penitentiary staff training system, improve cooperation between institutions, and also set up employment centres for vocational training, education and skill-building for inmates, and facilitate wider use of electronic monitoring of offenders. These factors will significantly contribute to qualitative changes in the national penitentiary system.
"A testing tool to assess penitentiary staff psychological knowledge, teamwork skills, stress resilience and communication skills is under development. The test scores will facilitate the design of individual competence building plans and training needs. Training programmes focused on dynamic security training for officers are also being updated," says Mr. Jocius.
He believes that adequate staff qualification, competence and motivation are the keys to success, which allows for more effective resocialisation of inmates, increased job satisfaction and prestige of the profession, and a balanced and sustainable environment in the overall penitentiary system.
Lithuanian penitentiary staff learn how to create such an environment from their Norwegian colleagues while participating in the training courses and internships in Norway. Professionals from the University College of the Norwegian Correctional Service, Innlandet and Bredveit prisons, Oslo Halfway House and Oslo Probation Service share their experience with the Lithuanian partners: officers from the Training Center of the Prison Department, Pravieniškės Correction House-Open Prison Colony, Marijampolė Correction House, Alytus Correction House, Kaunas Remand Prison and Lithuanian Probation Service.
Within the framework of the project, a special place is given to Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) and the support they provide to inmates.In seeking closer cooperation between correctional institutions, halfway houses, probation services and non-governmental organisations, a cooperation model will be developed to ensure that inmates are provided with the necessary services for their successful integration into society.
The NGOs will support inmates in correctional facilities or halfway houses to re-adjust to the social environment, obtain the necessary information and access to the social support system, re-establish and strengthen contacts with relatives and family members, to develop capacity for dealing with social and other problems, acquire the skills necessary for integration into the labour market, i.e., to fully facilitate their social integration.
In the short term, the Prison Department under the Ministry of Justice of the Republic of Lithuania, within the framework of this project, will launch a call for proposals for projects of non-governmental organisations for the resocialisation of inmates.
About the Justice and Home Affairs programme
The Justice and Home Affairs programme strengthens the rule of law in Lithuania. The Programme instruments increase the efficiency of the Lithuanian judiciary and prosecutor's office, improve the penitentiary system, enhance the competencies of the judiciary and law enforcement authorities and inter-institutional cooperation in the field of domestic and gender-based violence and improve police capacity in the fight against crime. In total, over 40 million EUR has been invested in the programme for the period 2014-2021. The programme is operated by the CPMA and co-implemented with partners.
Last updated: 24-04-2024
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