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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.
Summary of project results
The project aim was to prevent juvenile offences and to provide the necessary support and assistance to juvenile offenders to enable them to continue their law-abiding lives and avoid going to prison.
The project implemented juvenile justice reform in Estonia in accordance with international standards, EU directives and best practice and with a focus on the most vulnerable young offenders. The flagship project has introduced, raised awareness, trained to apply restorative justice measures among various list of target groups – youth itself, youth workers, social workers, teachers, mediators, police, prosecutors, judges etc. Several studies (International Self-Report Delinquency Study (ISRD)), different specialised trainings, seminars, workshops, for specialists working with the youth have been carried out. Local governments have been engaged in piloting several restorative justice measures etc. The project will make a giant push for a big change in methods how to deal with delinquent youth in Estonia.
Project activities included:
- 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.
Restorative justice measures have been taken up successfully in the justice system concerning youth. In year 2023, 85% of cases that reached the the criminal justice system and dealt with youth up to 17 years of age, were resolved by using restorative measures and not punitive measures. Follow-up activities for multiple actors are continuing until 2029 widening the target group (young adults) and continuing the change regarding the youth in the criminal justice system.
Summary of bilateral results
Main cooperation took place with Norwegian Mediation Services as Oslo Police withdrew from the project due to internal changes in the organisation. Norwegian Mediation Services was of great assistance in developing the volunteer mediation system in Estonia as well as training the restoratice justice practicioners (study trip to Norway as well as in Estonia). The cooperation with the Norwegian Mediation Services is continuing also after the end of project activities.