Specialised juvenile justice approach established

Project facts

Project promoter:
Ministry of Justice of Estonia(EE)
Project Number:
EE-LOCALDEV-0001
Status:
In implementation
Initial project cost:
€4,782,637
Donor Project Partners:
Norwegian Mediation and Reconciliation Services(NO)
Oslo Police District(NO)
Other Project Partners
Estonian Social Insurance Board(EE)
Prosecutor''s Office(EE)

Description

Financed from NO FM

Programme outcome the project contributes to: “Enhanced wellbeing of children and youth”

The project supports the specialized juvenile justice approach in practice to ensure minimal negative effects for youth and support positive development. The implementation of juvenile justice reform in Estonia is carried out in accordance with international standards, EU directives and best practice and with a focus on the most vulnerable young offenders.

Project activities:

  • A training programme for professionals working with youth in contact with the law, incl. technical assistance (coaching/mentoring and supervision), and the strengthening of capacity on strategic planning, coordination and monitoring in the juvenile justice system;
  • The development of tools for evaluation and multi-agency cooperation, incl. a system for risk assessment of young offenders in pre-trial proceedings (validation of instruments, piloting and training);
  • The establishment of alternative interventions to fines and institutionalisation for youth, incl. short-term behaviour-based interventions applicable by police or in cooperation with healthcare, schools, youth work. The project will support access to multi-dimensional family therapy approaches to youth offenders on probation and capacity-building for professionals working with youth with intellectual and developmental disabilities (awareness raising, training and adjustment of interventions);
  • The establishment of a volunteer mediators system aimed at developing a restorative approach to juvenile justice and better access to mediation;
  • Increasing the use of restorative justice and restorative methods in the criminal justice system - prisons and probation;
  • Improving conditions in closed facilities for children and youth as an alternative to prison, incl. the introduction of in-treatment methods and services aimed at re-socialisation, and specialised training for prison staff to work with institutionalised youth.

Information on the projects funded by the EEA and Norway Grants is provided by the Programme and Fund Operators in the Beneficiary States, who are responsible for the completeness and accuracy of this information.