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R4JUST Project

About

Based on the cooperation between academia, private sector research, prison and probation professionals, judges and prosecutors, the R4JUST project aims not only to expand the use of Radicalization Risk Assessment tools (namely the multi-level approach developed at R2PRIS and INTEGRA) in prison and probation contexts through training activities to a broader audience (i.e., approx. 10 new EUMS), constituting a larger use case anonymized database, but also to raise the awareness and provide training to judges and prosecutors on using risk assessment information to support sentencing, which is of particular interest in criminal cases involving individuals accused of violent extremism related crimes and/or terrorist involvement.

The Radicalization Prevention Competence Development Programme for Justice Professionals (R4JUST) project responds to the general objective in the call for proposals by “contributing to the effective and coherent application of EU law in the areas of civil law, criminal law and fundamental rights, judicial ethics and the rule of law, by helping to address the training needs of justice professionals in these fields, (targeting the) training needs of court staff and bailiffs, as well as prison and probation staff”.

​Leaving mental health issues undiagnosed and unsupported in the community means former prisoners must overcome or manage these problems alone before progressing with the education, training and employment (ETE) measures crucial for effective resettlement. The European Council and the World Health Organisation recommend for information and education on mental health issues to continue after release.​

Project Aims

  • “Tackle gaps in training for prison and probation staff (…) on countering radicalization to violent extremism in prison”
  • “Support the training of justice professionals (…) via”:
    • seminars;
    • cross-border training activities; and
    • training activities for two different justice professions, such as judges and prosecutors
  • “Facilitate the implementation of the regulation establishing the EPPO, via the creation of training modules to train judges (and) prosecutors”.

This project aims to prevent and reduce the risk of radicalization and violent extremism inside prisons by exploring a multi-sectoral approach, intending to enhance the competences of prison staff (RRAP Toolset – Multi-level radicalization approach towards governors, frontline staff and technical staff), probation staff (e.g., probation officers/supervisors, psychologists), as well as judges and prosecutors.

Expected outcomes

  • Create and raise awareness on the broad picture radicalisation and violent extremism, fostering understanding in
    • why prisons are a breeding ground for radicalisation;
    • why probation settings should address the issue of radicalisation;
    • the importance of risk and needs assessment information at sentencing; and
    • the need for an integrated, multi-sectoral communication approach.
  • Scale-up the range of countries using the R2PRIS RRAP Toolset by establishing a series of training programmes for all staff within a prison to respond appropriately to potentially vulnerable individuals at risk of radicalization (prison level);
  • Develop a skills-enhancement training programme and a radicalization risks, and needs assessment questionnaire for probation staff working with radicalized inmates/inmates at risk of radicalization (probation level);
  • Develop a skills-enhancement, guiding training programme for judges and prosecutors on how (and when) risk and needs assessment information should be used (sentencing level);
  • Develop a training programme based on success factors Exit Programmes (prison, probation and sentencing levels);
  • Train trainers (prison and probation professionals, judges and prosecutors) in each country able to ensure the training actions after the end of the R4JUST project;
  • Develop a knowledge base (database) both containing anonymized use cases of the RRAP and other risk assessment instruments to be used in the training of judicial professionals; and examples of proven exit programmes implemented throughout Europe

Project Partners

Radicalisation research and training development

  • BSAFE LAB / UBI – Beira Interior University (PT)
  • IPS_Innovative Prison Systems (PT)
  • IRKS – Institute for the Sociology of Law and Criminology (AT)
  • HfÖV – University for Public Administration in Bremen (DE)
  • Romanian Centre for Penitentiary Studies | West University Timisoara12 (RO)
  • Agenfor International (IT)

Prisons and probation staff training

  • Austrian Prison Administration (AT)
  • ANP – Administratia Nationala a Penitenciarelor (RO)
  • Belgian Prison Service (BE)
  • Belgian Probation Service (BE)
  • Bremen Justiz senate (DE)
  • Croatian Prison Service (HR)
  • DGRSP – Direção Geral de Reinserção e Serviços Prisionais (PT)
  • ENAP – École nationale d’administration pénitentiaire (FR)
  • Polish Prison Service (PL)
  • Ministero della Giustizia (IT)
  • Secretaría General de Instituciones Penitenciarias (ES)
  • Swedish Prison and Probation Service (SE)

Judges and prosecutors training

  • EJTN – European Judicial Training Network (BE)

Sectoral and Dissemination partners

  • EuroPris – European Organization of Prison and Correctional Services (NL)
  • Stichting Foundation ICPA Office in Europe (NL)
  • CEP – Confederation of European Probation (NL)