A 2-day online training session focused on fostering the prison system capacities and staff skills related to management of violent and extremist prisoners (VEPs) in BiH gathered representatives of the Ministries of Justice of Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH), Federation BiH and Republika Srpska.

The training resulted in an enhanced level of knowledge on VEP management among the members of the multi-disciplinary teams coming from Zenica prison and the newly opened State prison. The participants increased their self-confidence and skills to apply the basic screening and the risk and needs assessment (RNA) tools, as well as the VEP-specific rehabilitation methodology aimed at their disengagement from violence. They also enhanced their motivational interviewing techniques designed to encourage VEPs to take active participation in the treatment programme and how to motivate them towards making positive changes in their lives.

In order to further test the reliability of the above-mentioned tools, programme and techniques, and to ensure a unified approach throughout the BiH prison system, the participants agreed to pilot them in up to two prison establishments for a period of up to three months. Subsequently to the pilot phase, the final tools and the programme will be adjusted and tailor-made to BiH specific needs and circumstances.

Following the safety recommendations regarding the COVID-19 pandemic, the training was held online and delivered by certified trainers coming from the Ministries of Justice of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Republika Srpska and Federation BiH, supported by one intentional CoE consultant.

The activity was took place on 09-10 December and it was organised under the project ''Structured Sentence Management For Violent And Extremist Prisoners" funded by the voluntary contribution of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office of the United Kingdom and the United States Agency for International Development Office in Bosnia and Herzegovina, and implemented by the Council of Europe.