Roma Policy Lab

Project “Enhancing the capacity of prison staff, building a pilot prison facility, connected to a training center and improving the rehabilitation of prisoners”

Implemented in: Sofia city, Samoranovo village, Dupnitsa municipality

Justice Programme under NFM 2014-2021

Implementation period: 29.01.2020 – 29.01.2024

Lead organisation: General Directorate “Execution of sentences”

Partners: University College of Norwegian Correctional Service; Ona prison; Solholmen half-way house

Project summary:

The main objective of the project is to improve correctional services. The specific objectives of the project are:

  • Improving the correctional system by building a “pilot prison”. The construction of the new prison facility will reduce the prison population in the area and create conditions that meet European standards, recommendations and good practices. A modern staff training center will be established to be linked to the “pilot prison”, capacity up to 100 students and equipped halls for interactive group training and self-study.
  • Upgrading and modernizing the concept of staff training and building a knowledge-based organization. It is planned to increase the capacity of the staff of the Directorate-General for Execution of Sentences through training focused on ethics, values and dynamic security, including working with vulnerable groups (Roma, juvenile drug addicts).
  • Improving rehabilitation of prisoners and enhancing their social competences to reduce recurrence, with a focus on vulnerable groups. With the support and supervision of mentors (probation inspectors in prisons), various programs will be implemented for social competences, parental care and restoration of family ties, the realization of the labor market and other skills. The programs will assist individuals in the process of overcoming de-institutionalization, assuming personal responsibility and planning for the future.
  • Enhancing synergy and cooperation with stakeholders and civil society to improve the follow-up care of prisoners after their release. An inter-institutional cooperation network will be established with the help of mentors and opportunities will be provided to support prisoners, depending on individual needs. before and after their release. This will help their social inclusion and reduce the risk of re-offending and harming society.
  • Pilot prison facility with adjoining training center for staff and transitional ward (Half way house) built.
  • Assessment and analysis of training needs completed, including review of training programs.
  • Developed a staff training strategy and a new program for initial and continuing training.
  • Workplace coaching and mentoring program developed and implemented.
  • Three specialized staff training programs has been developed: working with children with parents deprived of their liberty, professional ethics and a program for medical and non-medical staff and training of trainers.
  • Internships conducted to exchange experience for employees of the Directorate-General for Execution of Sentences at the KRUS Staff Training Academy and the Directorate of the Norwegian Correctional Service KDI.
  • 4 digital training videos filmed and teaching material developed.
  • Prepared assessment and analysis of the needs of prisoners and especially of vulnerable groups.
  • Rehabilitation programs for reintegration and improvement of the social competences of prisoners, including young offenders and Roma, have been developed and implemented.
  • Training of prison staff, incl. probation inspectors to implement specialized programs for reintegration and improvement of social competences.
  • Traineeships conducted by officers of the Directorate-General for Execution of Sentences in Norway for the implementation of programs in the newly constructed half way house.
  • Specialized coaching program for staff and training of mentors was developed.
  • A database of the competences of the persons will be created, which will be periodically sent to the employers’ organizations and to the labor offices.
  • Campaigns conducted with stakeholders, including local government representatives, trade unions, employers’ organizations and the media and concluded a national framework agreement on interinstitutional cooperation.

Grant amount: 21 290 000 EUR

Contact: General Commissioner Ivaylo Yordanov,  email: gdin@gdin.bg, + 359 2 8139190, Sofia 1309, 21 “Gen.N.Stoletov” Blvd.

Expert meeting, 26-28 April 2023. On behalf of the Norwegian partners, Ulle Stageberg – lecturer at the University College of the Norwegian Correctional Service, Leif Magne Viste – head of the ONA prison and Frank Johansen – expert “Staff Training” at the Norwegian Correctional Service took part. From the Bulgarian side, heads of prisons and experts from the State Department of Internal Affairs participated.

A visit to Samoranovo, where the new prison complex is being built, was part of the Sixth Annual Meeting of the Financial Mechanism of the European Economic Area and the Norwegian Financial Mechanism, organized by the National Coordination Unit.

Related projects:
Project: „Evaluation of the Prison Reform in Bulgaria: Legislation and Practice Following the Pilot Judgement of the ECtHR “Neshkov and Others”

Related publications:
REPORT: Problems with the equal treatment of accused persons in pre-trial proceedings in Bulgaria

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