Data for Monitoring the Safety of Imprisoned Children (Data MOSAIC)
In March 2023, PRI started a project aiming to tackle violence against imprisoned children in the EU through improved data collection and monitoring practices. The project is funded by the European Union’s Citizens, Equality, Rights and Values (CERV) programme and is being realised in partnership with Terre des Hommes / Tierra de Hombres, the Social Activities and Practice Institute (SAPI) and Universidade NOVA de Lisboa. Some of the activities will also be realised in partnership with child justice authorities in three key implementation countries: Bulgaria, Ireland and Romania.
The project will be informed by the voice and perspectives of children with lived experience of criminal justice systems throughout all activities, including mapping of current practices and promising approaches to monitoring and tackling violence against children in prisons across the EU, in-depth research on the gaps, needs and improvement opportunities in the three focus countries as well as the development and piloting of a data collection tool and guidance on its use in a child-friendly and non-discriminatory manner.
Read more about PRI’s work on justice with and for children here.
PRI Alt Eur: Promoting non-discriminatory alternatives to imprisonment across Europe
In January 2021, PRI began a project on alternatives to prison sentences in Europe, funded by the European Union DG Just.
Our partners for this project are the Hungarian Helsinki Committee and the Faculty of Law of the University of Coimbra.
The project includes a comparative study of European countries’ application of non-custodial sanctions and measures, including consideration of how they affect vulnerable and minority groups. To build systemic capacity for improved, non-discriminatory use and implementation of community-based sentencing measures, training for probation officers, judiciary, and other criminal justice actors was delivered in Hungary and Portugal, as well as a review of legislative instruments informing sentencing in each country. The design of an improved desi pilot projects on alternatives which better meet the needs and circumstances of vulnerable and minority groups.
Read more about alternatives to detention.
Addressing gaps in the implementation and management of alternatives to imprisonment and post-release support during the COVID-19 global pandemic
In January 2022, PRI completed a project funded by the International Penal and Penitentiary Foundation (IPPF) looking at the impact on COVID-19 on alternatives to imprisonment and post-release support and addressing the gaps and shortcomings in their implementation and management.
The project included extensive research into the impact of COVID-19 on the use, implementation and experience of non-custodial sentences, resulting in a comparative summary report including 21 EU members states and four country reports reflecting in-depth analysis that was conducted in Georgia, Hungary, Kyrgyzstan and Portugal. The reports informed advocacy strategies in each country to ensure the uptake of recommendations by prison and probation authorities. The project also produced a 10-point plan for crisis-ready non-custodial sanctions and measures, including a summary of key issues experienced by prison and probation services during the COVID-19 pandemic and practical recommendations for service improvements.
The 10-point plan can be used globally to guide better responses to probation and post-release –now with the impact of the pandemic continuing, and in the longer-term.