Partners

​Cooperation between a varied array of actors is essential in order to achieve the project’s main goals. Thus, the consortium’s composition is particular in the sense that it combines prison administrators, trade unions, VET and research organisations, and representatives of correctional private and public sector members. Only by taking advantage of such a strategic partnership would the consortium reach the project’s objective of mapping out the ideal profile for PO in the 21st century.

The consortium is represented by five EU Member states, through the collaboration of BSAFE LAB of UBI University from Portugal, IPS_Innovative Prison Systems, Sindicato Nacional do Corpo da Garda Prisional from Portugal, Bremen Senate of Justice and Constitution, De Federale Overheidsdienst Justitie/ Le Service Public Fédéral, Sindicatul National al Lucratorilor de Penitenciare, Stichting Foundation ICPA Office in Europe and the European Organization and Correctional Services.

BSAFE LAB of UBI University
Portugal
Contact: Vitor Costa 

With extensive experience in managing EU funds and promoting innovative training programmes for prison staff (ECOPRIS, R2PRIS and EIGEP projects as e.g.), the BSAFE LAB of the UBI University leads the consortium. BSAFE LAB is a specialised research lab focused in developing  research and training in the areas of justice, law enforcement and public safety. The research institution combines its project management experience together with the knowledge of the specific sectors, both the VET (being the university a VET provider) and the corrections research side, pulling expertise from its various faculty members to contribute to the development of the different work packages.

IPS_Innovative Prison Systems
Portugal
Contact: Pedro das Neves

Direção-Geral de Reinserção
​e Serviços Prisionais
Portugal
Contact: Jorge Monteiro

National Trade Union of the Prison                 
Corps Guard (SNCGP)
​Portugal
Contact: Carlos Sousa

Bremen Senate of Justice
​and Constitution
Germany
Contact: Clara Müller

De Federale Overheidsdienst Justitie
​- Le Service Public Fédéral
Belgium
Contact: Kathleen Van De Vijver

Sindicatul National al Politistilor de Penitenciare
Romania
Contact: Stefan Teoroc

Stichting Foundation ICPA Office
in Europe
Netherlands
Contact: Michelle Carpentier

​IPS_Innovative Prison Systems (Qualify Just) is a renowned research and advisory firm specialised on the development of correctional services. Together with correctional services from different countries, IPS has been involved in more than 25 innovative projects aiming the development of innovative approaches to staff training (being awarded with the ICPA Excellence award for Staff Training in 2018). 

"General-Directorate of Rehabilitation and Prison Service, successor by merger to the General Directorate of Probation Services and General Directorate of the Prison Service, has the mission "to develop policies for crime prevention, enforcement of sentences and measures and social reintegration and articulated and complementary management of juvenile justice system and prison systems, ensuring conditions consistent with human dignity and contributing to the defence of order and social peace "(Article 2 of decree-law No. 215/2012 of 28 September).
The wider scope of work in the field of the enforcement of judicial sentences encourages greater consistency and responsiveness "... centered on the individual from pre-sentence decisions to release, preparing, in cooperation with other public and private sector, opportunities for change and social reintegration, reducing the negative consequences of deprivation of liberty and reducing the risk of recidivism "(cfr. Preâmbulo, DL No. 215/2012 of September 28).
These principles and values foresee a systemic vision of the service, inevitably focused on its recognition within society and institutions, as a promoter of change in behaviour and civil society protection."

The Portuguese Prison and Probation Service develops policies for crime prevention, enforcement of sentences/measures and social reintegration, articulating/complementing management of both juvenile justice and prison systems. Being simultaneously a national public representative of the correctional sector (prison administration) and f public VET provider (through its own Penitentiary Training centre), the  Portuguese Prison and Probation Services has currently 4.401 prison officers (PO) guards of a total number of employees of 6962. In 2018, it was responsible for the continuous training of  1940 prison staff (99 training activities).

Bremen Senate of Justice and Constitution has extensive experience – both as coordinator and partner - of European projects which employ a multi-agency approach to improve outcomes along the criminal justice pathway. This entity is familiar with current best practice in a range of fields and will be contributing to the project specifically through its experience in prison administration as an employer and as a training academy.

The Belgian Prison Service is the largest entity within the Federal Public Service of Justice, comprising a central administration, 2 prison staff training centres and 35 correctional facilities. The Belgian Prison Service stands for an innovative detention policy in which the inmate occupies a central place. Their detention model is based on a balance between dynamic and passive security whereby the rights and obligations of both inmate and staff and the integrity of all employees are guiding principles.

SNPP is the largest trade union structure of the Ministry of Justice (MJ) and the National Penitentiary Administration (ANP) with 44 branches and more than 6.500 members from execution to management positions, out of 13.000 prison workers. Through strengthened national and international affiliations and permanent participation in the decision-making bodies at federate and confederate level, SNPP benefit of representation at all levels of social dialogue and negotiation in Romania, offering a highly valued perspective to the project.

With a broader geographical focus towards the advancement of corrections around the world, ICPA is the International Corrections and Prisons Association represents 35 correctional services and 40 private companies that run private prisons (representing also both the employers and VET organisations). Furthermore, ICPA has extensive experience of correctional staff training in different parts of the world, which will be of fundamental importance in the context of the project’s goals.