ICPA Practice Transfer Advisory Committee
Knowledge transfer doesn’t always or easily assure the transfer of new practice. Many exemplary and innovative approaches emerge locally in one prison or community corrections jurisdiction. Unfortunately, they remain only local in their impact because they are not promoted, explained or even introduced to the broader corrections community. We believe ICPA is well-positioned to undertake a more active strategy for encouraging ‘practice transfer’ in addition to knowledge transfer.
The Committee sees its role as supporting and coordinating the ‘connecting’ of jurisdictions where interest in any particular ‘practice’ idea begins to be accepted. We aim to nudge and promote rather than work actively in implementing or executing any new practice transfer. This follows the principle that real success in practice transfer depends on the level of commitment and interest that can be generated, both among the originators of the idea and the potential new adopters.
On a yearly basis, we hope to choose one or two examples of exciting new practices that have been highlighted during the ICPA Annual Conference.
Selection Criteria & Process
Selection criteria ensures that the projects are:
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Innovative and significant: New ideas that can capture the imagination of the global corrections community;
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Sustainable: Where the project has shown that it can be sustained for a reasonable period of time (e.g. two years or longer if not continually);
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Feasible: Where implementation appears to be possible and feasible;
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Proven: Where there is evidence to support the project’s acceptance and its positive impact on offenders and/or staff (not necessarily quantitative evidence but at least some breadth of qualitative evidence showing improvement in social climate, attitudes, motivation, well-being… etc.);
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Diverse: Representing different regions of the world even if not expected to be universally acceptable;
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Originator Support: Where the project leaders are supportive of helping others wishing to implement the new idea;
A process for selection of one or two promising projects each year:
- PTAC Action: The PTAC is asked to identify projects that have been selected for presentation at the Annual Conference that seem to meet the criteria;
- Board Action: ICPA members (including ICPA Board Members) attending the Annual Conference are asked to nominate any project that they believe should be considered;
- Presenter Submissions: Any presenter to the Annual Conference can self-submit their project for consideration (with perhaps a short video to highlight why it should be considered);
- PTAC Action: The ICPA PTAC reviews submitted nominations, selects a reasonable number to consider and then makes recommendations to the ICPA Board for final selection of one or two that could be promoted.
Engagement
The selected projects would be informed by the ICPA President and the PTAC would arrange to meet individually with the leadership of each project (via Zoom) to determine their level of commitment and ability to support others in implementing a similar project.
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The extent and boundaries of support that could be offered (both by the project originators and ICPA) would be clearly defined;
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The details and sequence of what may be required to ‘transfer’ the idea would be clearly spelled out (e.g. how to introduce the idea to offenders and/or staff; senior leadership agreement to support the new idea …etc.);
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The pace at which practice transfer implementation could occur would be agreed to;
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Any opportunity for a ‘study tour’ by other jurisdictions would be discussed.
Announcement & Reach-out
Announcement & Reach-out
CPA announces the selection of the projects for the coming year (in January following the Annual Conference) using all of its various communication platforms (Web site, Facebook, Linked-In etc.). Where there is an ICPA Regional Chapter, their involvement in promoting any of the practice transfer ideas is encouraged.
Connecting & Facilitating
Connecting & Facilitating
ICPA, through the PTAC serves only a ‘connecting and facilitating function', working together with originators and the new implementors to help assure there is continued collaboration and sharing of ideas for a smooth process of practice transfer. The PTAC announces and helps promote the selection of new projects each coming year using all of ICPA’s various communication platforms (Web site, Facebook, Linked-In etc.).
Practice Transfer Focus 2025
For 2025, the practice we will be promoting Peer Mentoring and Peer Support by persons with lived corrections experience because we see this approach as gaining growing acceptance within correctional services around the world.
Practice Transfer Focus 2024
In 2024, PTAC is focused on the concept of family engagement in prison and post-release with the goal of deepening and improving understanding of what good practice looks like in this area and how jurisdictions can learn from one another to improve their engagement of families of prisoners.
Taskforce Members
Nadya Radkovska
Since the beginning of 2004 Ms. Radkovska has been working for General Directorate “Execution of Sentences”, initially as a member of the team responsible for the introduction of alternative sanctions and measures (probation) in Bulgaria. She has participated in the development of policies, risk assessment tools for offenders, training strategy and procedures aiming the successful establishment of the probation service as a part of the justice chain in Bulgaria.
From 2009 until 2020, she took the position of Head of the newly formed unit "International Cooperation and Professional Training of Staff" in General Directorate “Execution of Sentences”. In 2020, she was appointed as Commissioner, Head of the Department for International Cooperation and Training of Staff. In 2015, she has been elected as a member of the Council for Penological Co-operation (PC-CP) in the Council of Europe and in 2020 she was elected as Chair of PC-CP. In this capacity she is involved in drafting recommendations and guidelines aiming to support the Member states in their efforts to introduce standards, effective practices and solution. In this respect aa an examples are the adopted Guidelines regarding recruitment, selection, education, training and professional development of prison and probation staff, CM/Rec(2018)8 of the Committee of Ministers to member States concerning restorative justice in criminal matters, CM/Rec(2018)5 concerning children with imprisoned parents, Recommendation on the European Rules on community sanctions and measures, Guidelines for prison and probation services regarding radicalization and violent extremism, (Revised edition) Rec(2006)2-rev on the European Prison Rules.
From 2009 until 2020, she took the position of Head of the newly formed unit "International Cooperation and Professional Training of Staff" in General Directorate “Execution of Sentences”. In 2020, she was appointed as Commissioner, Head of the Department for International Cooperation and Training of Staff. In 2015, she has been elected as a member of the Council for Penological Co-operation (PC-CP) in the Council of Europe and in 2020 she was elected as Chair of PC-CP. In this capacity she is involved in drafting recommendations and guidelines aiming to support the Member states in their efforts to introduce standards, effective practices and solution. In this respect aa an examples are the adopted Guidelines regarding recruitment, selection, education, training and professional development of prison and probation staff, CM/Rec(2018)8 of the Committee of Ministers to member States concerning restorative justice in criminal matters, CM/Rec(2018)5 concerning children with imprisoned parents, Recommendation on the European Rules on community sanctions and measures, Guidelines for prison and probation services regarding radicalization and violent extremism, (Revised edition) Rec(2006)2-rev on the European Prison Rules.
In 2020 she has been elected by the European Commission as Chair of the Radicalisation Awareness Network (RAN) Prisons Working Group. Ms. Radkovska has been part of various UNODC missions in Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan and Iraq on the field of radicalization and violent extremism in prisons (Returning Foreign Terrorist Fighters Detention Program funded by the Counter-Terrorism Bureau of the US Department of State). She is consultant of the Council of Europe in the frame of projects in Armenia, Moldova, Western Balkans and MENA countries in the area of prison management, training of staff, probations, radicalization and violent extremism in prisons.
In July 2024, she has been elected as member of the United Nations Interregional Crime and Justice Research Institute (UNICRI) – Penal Reform International (PRI) Expert Working Group for a “Green Prisons Research Initiative”. Ms. Radkovska has graduated Psychology and Counterterrorism at New Bulgarian University. She is PhD Candidate in Organisational Psychology at Sofia University. She is fluent in English and French language.
Peter Severin
Peter has been the Commissioner, Corrective Services New South Wales, Australia since September 2012 and retired in August 2021. Prior to this appointment Peter was the Chief Executive of the Department for Correctional Services in South Australia from July 2003 and worked with the Department of Corrective Services in Queensland, Australia for almost 15 years, his last position was Deputy Director-General. Peter started his corrections career in Germany in 1980.
New South Wales is one of eight States and Territories in Australia and Corrective Services New South Wales has responsibility for prisons and community corrections. It is the largest Australian corrections jurisdiction.
Peter has a strong background in corrections operation, in particular offender management and intervention. He has extensive experience in prison management and policy formulation. Peter also presided over significant prison infrastructure design, construction and commissioning and has particular expertise in the development of service standards for the delivery of correctional services by the private sector and contract management.
Peter holds a Masters of Public Administration and Bachelor of Social Work degree.
Past Projects
The Twinning Project
Desistance from crime involves not only the termination of offending (also referred to as “primary desistance”), but also some level of transformation of self-identity and self-worth (also referred to as “secondary desistance”). Such transformation is usually presented through a “narrative of change” linked to taking on new roles (such as parent, employee, coach, etc.) that are no longer associated with offending. Avenues for transformation and pro-social role development are difficult to come by for many of those involved in the criminal justice system who are disproportionately drawn from socially excluded backgrounds. Coupled with the stigma attached to a criminal record, offenders also typically have low levels of pro-social capital, few positive relationships and limited employment prospects, all of which are required to support successful rehabilitation efforts. Research has shown that a “catalyst for change” is fundamental to successful desistance and rehabilitation efforts, and research is beginning to show that engagement in sport and physical activity can potentially act as such a catalyst. The introduction of the Twinning Project in 2018 within the HM Prison and Probation Service, which aims to utilise football coaching to tackle the “revolving door” of offending, was therefore a timely and important initiative.