An Overview of the Prison System in Lithuania Sandra Stanytė Social worker Vilnius archdiocese CARITAS In Service Training Course "Training Teachers and Instructors to Teach in Prisons/Detention Centres"

General Information (1):  There are 15 penal institutions subordinate to the Prison Department enforcing pre- trial detention sanctions and custodial sentences imposed by court, 49 territorial correction inspections that are responsible for the execution of sentences alternatives to imprisonment and supervision of persons released on parole.  The training Center of the Prison Department organizes the training of the newly hired staff of the institutions subordinate to the Prison Department.  According to law, imprisonment institutions are classified into institutions of sentence execution and pre-trial detention centres; institutions for juveniles and for adults; and institutions for men and for women.  According to the security level, imprisonment institutions are classified into prisons (high security), correctional work colonies (normal security) and colonies-settlements (semi-open).  The correctional work colonies, which are the main places for serving custodial sentences (above 90% of all convicted persons serve their sentences there) are, according to the forms and the level intensity of the supervision and monitoring of inmates, classified into three regimes: common, strengthened and strict.

General Information (2):  Once the court has imposed a custodial sentence, in accordance with the Penal Code it must also designate the type of institution (prison, correctional work colony, reformatory work colony or correctional work colony- settlement) and the regime (common, strengthened or strict).  The assignment of an individual convict to a specific institution is decided by the Correctional Affairs Department (Prison Department) after an observation period during which the prisoner is subjected to a personality assessment process.

Characteristics of the probation service:  A clear cut system of probation does not yet exist in Lithuania. Probation tasks are carried out by correction inspectors, which are subordinate to the Prison Department of the Ministry of Justice.  The correction inspections deal with adults as well as juveniles. The age of criminal responsibility is 16 years (for serious offences the age is 14 years).  A few non-governmental organizations, like Lithuanian Caritas, daily engagement centres and groups of social risk for juveniles, shelter homes at monasteries as well the Red Cross and the Prisoners’ Guardianship Association of Lithuania (also non-governmental organisations) are involved in probation work. In general these organizations prepare projects fo reintegration of sentenced persons.

Inmates work at the prison:  The Code of the Execution of Punishments provides that the reformatory measures in which inmates are involved are regime, correctional activities, work, general education and vocational training.  Work is a duty for prisoners. The administration of an institution must ensure that inmates perform a job which corresponds to their working capability and profession.  Normally, inmates work in the enterprises of institutions. Currently, only about 30% of all inmates are employed. The number of the inmates in Lithuanian imprisonment institutions who work is one of the lowest in EU. Only 15 % of inmates perform industrial work and almost the same number of them do ordinary domestic jobs.  In Lithuania very rarely inmates have a possibility to work or study outside the prison.

State enterprises:  State enterprises, the ownership rights and duties of which are implemented by the Prison Department, function at three penitentiary institutions.  Sentenced prisoners are employed in the state enterprises. Furniture, electric fittings, various metal moldings, door and window bindings are produced in the enterprises. Bedclothes, work clothes, work footwear are also made therein and vehicles are repaired.  The production by inmates is of the identical quality as that produced by ordinary enterprises, though in the majority of cases it is less expensive.

Educational programmes for prisoners:  Prisoners without any profession must participate in vocational training programmes. If inmates are willing, the programmes for upgrading the existing skills and for training in new profession can be organized in the imprisonment institutions.  Around 30% of convicted persons seek to gain any kind of education in the imprisonment institutions. This percent rather increased comparing 12 years ago. This could be explained that earlier prisoners were with better education.

 The Law on Pre-Trial Detention provides that detainees in pre-trial detention centres must abide by the regime requirements. These persons can work only in the territory of the pre-trial detention centre, provided that there is consent and permission to this effect by the officer who investigates the case or the court.

Programmes in correction inspections:  There were implemented two programmes cognitive and behaviour modification in the Lithuania correction inspections: “Tik tu ir aš” (“Only you and I”) for adults. “Equip“ for adolescents and the youth. The name of the programmeConvicted persons who participated in Convicted persons who finished the programme 1.“Only you and I” (total number) Evaluation Criminal behavior Psychoactive substance abuse Violence66 2.“Equip” In total246143

Pre and post-release programmes:  Social integration programme;  Social rehabilitation programme; The name of the programmeAttended at least to one activity Participated in all activities of the programme Work or study 1.Social integration programme for persons after pre or post-release Social rehabilitation programme for offenders who did criminal activity using violence Social rehabilitation programme for offenders who did criminal activity for the property or the rights to the property and etc In total * The 2010 year statistics

Integration of ex-prisoners  The role of the community and nongovernmental organizations;  New legislation;  New services for ex-prisoners;

Links:   20Lithuania.pdf 20Lithuania.pdf   Prison Department website

Thank you for your attention!!!