Directors of European prison and probation services from the 46 Council of Europe’s member states are meeting in Sofia on 24 and 25 June to discuss ways to improve the autonomy and resocialisation of prisoners and combat organised crime groups in the prison and probation contexts, among other topics.

The 29th Council of Europe´s Conference of Directors of Prison and Probations Services is held under the theme “Human Rights, Democracy and the Rule of Law at the heart of prisons and probation”. The event, co-organised by the Council of Europe and the Bulgarian government, also gathers experienced European researchers, practitioners and NGOs.

Participants will also discuss how to prevent the excessive use of probation measures resulting in an increasing number of people being supervised by the criminal justice system, managing terrorist returnees and their families, the role of victims in the rehabilitation process, and the evolution of high-risk prison regimes.

In her keynote speech, the Bulgarian Minister of Justice, Maria Pavlova, stressed that ensuring that human rights are respected and protected in prisons and by probation services “is not only a legal obligation, but also a moral imperative, because human rights are the cornerstone of a just and humane society”, rights that “every person possesses, regardless of any circumstances”.

Council of Europe´s director of Security, Integrity and Rule of Law, Hanne Juncher, underlined that demands on the prisons and probation sectors are complex and constantly increasing and presented the Council of Europe work to address these challenges, including the development of new standards. A Recommendation on the use of artificial intelligence by Prison and Probation Services is expected to be adopted by the Council of Europe Committee of Ministers in the next months and work is ongoing to prepare a Recommendation on the promotion of mental health and the management of mental disorders of prisoners and probationers.

The President of the Committee of the Prevention of Torture, Alan Mitchell, will speak at the closing session.

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