With the financial support of Norway Grants, as part of the "Correctional Services" programme pre-defined project "Establishment of Training centre infrastructure and model prison blocks for training opportunities in the Olaine prison territory" from 11 to 12 April was organized international conference "PROFESSIONALISM: THROUGH CORRECTION TO SAFETY".
During these two days representatives of the Latvian Prison Administration's structural units, experts from other fields and foreign guests discussed the work done during the project, as well as the role and importance of the Training Centre, qualified workforce and the quality of modern education in the development of the correctional services system in Latvia and other European countries.
Participants of the conference had the opportunity to learn more about the work of correctional services in other European countries (Norway, Romania, Bulgaria, Poland), their experience when developing improvements, best practices and challenges. During the Panel discussion the foreign guests shared their experience about the role the Training centres play in the development of the correctional field as well as the importance of professional staff in systems everyday work. Whereas the representatives of the structural units of the Latvian Prison Administration discussed what we can expect from the new Training Centre.
Within the framework of the event, specialists from Latvian and foreign correctional services shared their experience on the issues of professional development of correctional services staff, as well as how important is to use social and interpersonal communication skills in the daily work with colleagues and prisoners.
At the conference it was also confirmed that the correctional services staff will have to use digital and other technologies more and more in their everyday life, which will allow for more staff resources to be directed towards the qualified resocialization of prisoners by maintaining human contacts.
The conference programme included more information about:
- Cooperation between Latvian and Norwegian correctional services and the practice and experience learned during the project;
- Practice manager or mentoring system established in Latvian prisons;
- ToT (Training of Trainers) model for the personnel development and growth;
- The impact and importance of artificial intelligence in the development of digitization processes;
- Cooperation between Latvian and Norwegian Red Cross and impact on the correctional field, providing support to the people after leaving prison.
- Uniting of resources and university cooperation for training highly qualified professionals. Connectivity of faculty and infrastructure.
- The role of research in maintaining a respectful and safe environment in prisons and in reducing recidivism.
- Psychological support for staff under stress, supervision and coaching: demand, supply and feedback.
- Researchers of the MQPL study (Measuring Quality of Prison Life) in Latvia, Krišus Ancāns and Inese Jokste presented the importance, results and impact of the study on the staff's work environment and the quality of life or well-being of prisoners from 4 Latvian prisons.
The conference was attended by representatives of the structural units and central office of the Latvian Prison Administration, the Ministry of Justice, the State Probation Service, the Norwegian Embassy in Latvia and etc. representatives of cooperation institutions. The conference was also attended by a large delegation of foreign guests, including representatives of the correctional services of Norway, Poland, Czech Republic, Croatia, Romania, Bulgaria and Lithuania.
This NFI project envisages not only to build a new infrastructure but to also change the way of thinking, improving the quality of work and introducing new practices in daily work in the structural units of the Latvian Prison Administration.
Currently, work is underway on the implementation of two important construction objects - construction of the new Training Centre and the new Liepāja prison.
New infrastructure also means ability for the staff to be able to adapt and accept the new and to flexibly respond to existing, thus it is important to continue improving competences so that the current and future clients of the correctional services, as well as the whole society could interact.
At the end of the event, the following theses were highlighted:
- Every project has its advantage - it ends with results and results are the most valuable thing that every work provides. The progress of the conference and the outcome of the project is the result of a partnership. This project and what was achieved during its implementation will be the beginning of a new partnership that Latvia will have to "bring" to those countries that will need this experience and thus the partnership becomes an added value;
- Learning is what everyone does every day. In these conditions of digitization and modernization, it is essential and important what kind of learning strategy each person chooses and creates;
- Culture has many different aspects. The new Training Centre and Liepājas prison in Latvia will make a new culture of organization, interaction and communication;
- Safety as a moral value is what gives the work of prison staff a significant added value which is important to highlight;
- Knowledge is not a collection of facts, but the ability to act. The more knowledge there is, the more human actions give an added value. Value-based knowledge related to statehood and protecting society is the one that makes a lot of sense from a humanistic perspective.
The NFI project has contributed to the development of the Latvian Prison Administration and the Latvian sentence execution system, which will be implemented in the new Training Centre and Liepājas Prison.
Working together for a safe and inclusive Europe.
Conference was held within the framework of the project “Establishment of Training centre infrastructure and model prison blocks for training opportunities in the Olaine prison territory” of the Norwegian financial instrument programme “Correctional Services”.
