good practice

More documents

Recommendations

Info

European Prison Observatory Alternatives to imprisonment in Europe: A handbook of good practice Voluntary input has also increased with charities and non-profit entities entering into areas of criminal justice that were previously solely administered by state agencies, for example, in Italy and in Spain. In Catalonia, in Spain, probation programmes are delivered by a large number of local NGOs with funding from the justice ministry. Probation staff caseloads differ greatly from one state to another. For example, in France, Italy, Portugal and Poland, probation staff supervise between 120 and 150 people. In the UK caseloads are reported as around 20 – 30 people per offender manager. 26
European Prison Observatory Alternatives to imprisonment in Europe: A handbook of good practice PART TWO: GOOD PRACTICE RECOMMENDATIONS 5 NATIONAL EXAMPLES AND PROPOSALS During 2015, each of the eight research partners in this project convened two national workshops to discuss alternatives to imprisonment in their national systems. The aim was to highlight examples of good practice and make proposals for better use of alternatives to imprisonment. With the first phase of the project completed, resulting in a large body of statistical and qualitative data from published and official sources, this was a useful stage for the eight project partners to gather at the workshops to share their research and pool ideas for reform. Those attending the national workshops included criminal justice practitioners (from probation, social work, the judiciary, prisons, police, prosecuting authorities and justice ministries), as well as policy makers, academics and civil society participants. In the first round of workshops, each country involved in the observatory consulted with national experts about what ‘good practice’ looks like in the field of community sanctions and measures. The discussion helped to highlight the differences between the official goals of particular measures and their effects in practice. The second round of workshops developed more detailed country-specific examples of good practice in alternatives to imprisonment. These examples are set out below in six groups depending on whether they involve: 1. Reconfiguration of policy and practice; 2. Sentencing reform; 3. Diversion from criminal justice at the pre-trial stage; 4. Diversion post-conviction; 5. Prison release measures; or 6. Other proposals for the future. RECONFIGURATION OF POLICY AND PRACTICE Portugal: Decriminalisation of drug possession in a health-led drug strategy In 2000, Portugal passed laws dramatically changing how the state tackles use of illegal drugs and introducing new government bodies to promote reduction of substance dependency and to reduce drug harms. Possession of drugs for personal use was decriminalised while the criminal status of dealing and trafficking was maintained. Evaluation and treatment services are organised through 18 regional Commissions under the authority of the Ministry of Health. Services are aimed at empowering individuals and are voluntary. People can be directed to the local Commissions by 27
Page 1 and 2: Alternatives to imprisonment in Eur
Page 3 and 4: Alternatives to imprisonment in Eur
Page 5 and 6: CONTENTS Executive summary p. 6 Par
Page 7 and 8: European Prison Observatory Alterna
Page 25: European Prison Observatory Alterna

good practice

You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles

Delete template?

Save as template?