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Description
The project will establish programme centres in 4 judicial regions where no suitable programmes for offenders are yet available and build, establish and operate a probation house, in which those conditionally released will be provided with accommodation, programmes strengthening working habits and stabilizing family relationships in addition to other services.
The project will include the following main activities:
- Establishment of four programme centres,
- Training of staff for implementation of standardized programmes for convicted juveniles and adults,
- Pilot implementation of probation and resocialization programmes,
- Construct and operate a probation house,
- Training of probation officers
Implementation of programmes for dismissed persons.
Summary of project results
The Probation and Mediation Service faced the insufficient number of resocialization programmes for offenders of less serious offence. The project addressed this by introducing Programme Centres. The project also responded to the absence of a residential resocialization programme targeting parolees during the first few months after release - the most risky time for reoffending. The project responded to this by opening of a Probation House.
The project was divided into two main activities. Within the first one, 5 Programme Centres were established in 5 judicial regions. Each centre has a team that focuses on providing resocialization programmes for the clients of the Service. This activity has ensured that in the 5 judicial regions the availability of resocialisation programmes focused for example on dangerous driving, anger management or strenghthening of the offender''s insight into his/her criminal behaviour is higher and the programmes provided are standardized. We have seen an increasing number of programmes being imposed by judges, which may indicate their increasing confidence in the Service as a stable partner. In the second activity, the Probation House building was renovated and started its operation. The target group of the residential programme is men on parole who have been indicated to have a higher need for post-release support. The programme lasts for 6 months, helping clients to bridge the most risky period after their release. Furthermore, cooperation with a Norwegian partner was implemented to share experiences.
The aim of the project was to increase the availability of standardized resocialization programmes as alternative to prison through establishment of Programme Centres and a Probation House. During the project implementation, in total 1554 clients of the Service entered the programmes in Programming Centres. The Probation House serves as a facility with a catchment area of the whole Czech Republic. During project implementation, 40 clients were housed in the new facility. By provision of new services, the project contributed to improvement of the quality of the Czech correctional system. The project also improved post-penitentiary care by establishing a Probation House. This provides support to parolees and seeks to minimise the risk of re-offending in the high-risk period after release. The project''s activities thus contributed to prevention of recidivism.
Summary of bilateral results
A partnership was concluded with the Norwegian Correctional Service - the Buskerud probation center and halfway house. The cooperation was important for sharing information and experience both in the field of resocialization programmes and especially in the field of residential programmes (with regard to the existence of a network of so-called halfway houses in Norway). As part of the bilateral cooperation, training with Norwegian experts was carried out in the Czech Republic, and the Service''s employees traveled to Norway to gain experience and inspiration for innovative practices in providing resocialization and restorative programmes. The project''s savings enabled the adoption of the Norwegian anger management programme which has been included in the Programme Centers'' offer.