EuroPris

NEWSLETTER | January 2024

New Year Greeting
Dear EuroPris members,

As we embark on a new year filled with fresh opportunities and challenges, I extend my heartfelt gratitude to each one of you for your commitment, collaboration, and invaluable sharing of your experiences and expertise. Together, we've not only addressed common issues but also leveraged our collective knowledge to provide meaningful solutions and new insight within the European prison arena.
 
I am thrilled to announce a significant development in our EuroPris community. The EPTA (European Penitentiary Training Academies) Network will now be part of EuroPris. This collaboration promises an enriched exchange of insights, fostering deeper cooperation, and amplifying our capacity to address the evolving landscape of staff recruitment and training across Europe.
 
Moreover, in our commitment to enhancing accessibility and usability, we are delighted to introduce our new website this year. This revamped platform offers a more intuitive structure, navigation, and an innovative approach to presenting and disseminating valuable information. This upgrade aims to facilitate seamless access to resources, fostering a more efficient exchange of knowledge among our members.

Moving forward, our mission remains resolute - to fortify cooperation, leverage networking opportunities, and continually exchange best practices. Through these endeavors, we strive to elevate our collective impact, driving positive change within the field of penitentiary practices.
 
I am immensely excited about the possibilities that this new year brings for our community. Let us harness this momentum, unite our strengths, and forge ahead in our shared pursuit of excellence in professional prison practice.
 
Wishing you all a prosperous and fulfilling year ahead.
 
Warm regards,
 
Caron McCaffrey
Upcoming Events
Technology in Corrections Conference:
Speaker Highlight
Registration for the fifth Technology in Corrections Conference (TIC) - 'Digital Rehabilitation', hosted by Türkiye's General Directorate of Prisons and Detention Houses, from April 21-24, 2024 is now open!

We're excited to welcome Mr. Jan Kleijssen as a keynote speaker at TIC. With 40 years at the Council of Europe, Mr. Kleijssen has been pivotal in shaping policies in Human Rights, Rule of Law, and Democracy. His expertise spans from leading initiatives in AI, Cybercrime, and Prison Management to establishing the Committee on Artificial Intelligence (CAI). Recognised as an authority in AI regulation and a recipient of the 2023 AI Policy Leader Government Award, Mr. Kleijssen brings invaluable insights into the evolving landscape of technology in corrections.

Join us for an enlightening session with Mr. Kleijssen, a distinguished figure whose career embodies a commitment to innovation and ethical governance in the digital age.

Register soon to secure early bird tickets!
Innovative Prisons Infrastructure Conference:
Speaker Highlight
Registration for the Innovative Prisons Infrastructure Conference (IPIC) in Istanbul from April 24 - 26, 2024 is also open.

We are honored to introduce Prof. Dr. Gültekin Yıldız as a distinguished speaker at IPIC. Born in Istanbul and a graduate of Boğaziçi University, Prof. Yıldız has had a prolific academic career, notably at Marmara University and Istanbul University, and has held significant positions such as the Director of the Atatürk Institute for Strategic Studies and the Dean of the Turkish Military Academy at the Turkish National Defence University (TNDU).

Prof. Yıldız is renowned for his extensive research in modern penal history and military history, notably authoring the first academic study on the evolution of the modern prison system in the Ottoman Empire. With numerous academic publications and participation in international scientific and professional events across the globe, Prof. Yıldız brings a wealth of knowledge and insight to IPIC. His contributions to the understanding of prison infrastructure and administration are invaluable, and we eagerly anticipate his perspectives at the conference.

Register soon to secure early bird tickets!
EuroPris 13th Annual General Meeting
We are thrilled to announce the upcoming 13th Annual General Meeting of EuroPris, scheduled for the 26 June, 2024 in the vibrant city of Sofia, Bulgaria. This event serves as a pivotal moment for EuroPris members to convene, exchange insights, and strengthen collaborative efforts.

Stay tuned for forthcoming details regarding the agenda, speakers, and venue. Additionally, we are excited to share that the winners of this year's Prison Achievement Award will be revealed during the event.
Call for Participants:
Criminal Justice Crossover Training
In Europe, there's growing recognition of the need for collaboration in criminal justice systems to effectively support restoration, rehabilitation, and reintegration. However, European countries face challenges in implementing this cooperation in training and practice. To address this, EuroPris, alongside the Netherlands Helsinki Committee, the EPTA Network, CEP, and EFRJ, are organising a Criminal Justice Crossover Training held from 7 - 8 March 2024. This aims to enhance cooperation between prison, probation, and restorative justice professionals from their career training stage.
Call for Participants:
Training Crisis Management Workshop for Training Academies
Taking place on 13 - 14 March 2024, The Crisis Management Training Program, hosted by the College of Justice, Estonian Academy of Security Sciences & Training Center of Justice of Georgia, aims to enhance skills in planning, coordination, communication, and adaptability for ensuring safety in public institutions. Its primary goal is to develop a shared understanding of crisis management strategies among training academies and equip management teams with the necessary skills to effectively handle potential crises.
Human Rights Spotlight
Healthcare Provision
In this month's Human Rights Spotlight article, Dr. Róisín Mulgrew discusses the vital issue of healthcare in prisons. It highlights the essential right of inmates to timely and appropriate medical care and the broader impact this has on public health and correctional ethics. Delve into the challenges of delivering healthcare in a prison environment and how it reflects our commitment to human rights and dignity. Join us in understanding the crucial role of prison healthcare, not just for inmates but for society as a whole.
Photo credits: Catalonia Prison Service
EuroPris News
ICT Expert Group Roundtable Reflection
Dr. Victoria Knight reflects on the EuroPris' ICT Expert Group's meeting in Helsinki that took place in October last year. She emphasises the group's focus on the human aspects of prison digitisation. The event, attended by experts and academics, included engaging discussions and a visit to Hämeenlinna's "Smart Prison". This meeting underscored the importance of balancing technological advancements with the needs and interactions of individuals in the prison system.
EuroPris Partners with PRI for 2024 Global Prison Trends, Addressing Staffing, Overcrowding, and Violence in Prisons
EuroPris is pleased to announce a cooperation agreement with Penal Reform International (PRI) for the 2024 edition of Global Prison Trends. This collaboration aims to provide an in-depth European analysis focusing on three critical topics relevant to EuroPris members: Staff Recruitment and Retention, Prison Overcrowding, and Violence in Prisons in Europe. This partnership signifies a commitment to addressing key challenges in the correctional field and sharing valuable insights with our community.
Other News
UK Government Announces 400m Drone No-Fly-Zone Around Prisons
The UK government introduced new regulations establishing 400m drone no-fly zones around prisons, aiming to curb the illicit entry of drugs and mobile phones. Violators of these regulations risk imprisonment for up to 10 years, as the government seeks to significantly disrupt the operations of organised crime.
Highlights from KMS
EuroPris receives queries from member countries every week, and in this section, we will highlight several Knowledge Management System (KMS) reports from the last months. Click on the link to view each KMS report:


Contacts
European Organisation of Prison and Correctional Services (EuroPris)

Bezuidenhoutseweg 20
2594 AV, The Hague
Netherlands