The Council of Europe continues to support the penitentiary institutions in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) by improving prison staff capacities related to management of violent and extremist prisoners (VEPs). Namely, a 3-day advanced training session for the multidisciplinary teams from the newly opened State prison, Bijeljina and Tuzla prisons took place on 15–17 June 2021 in Mostar.

The training focused on the application of the VEP-specific screening, risk and needs assessment tools and rehabilitation programme and resulted with an enhanced level of knowledge, self-confidence and skills among the participants. It was delivered by certified trainers coming from the Ministries of Justice of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Republika Srpska and Federation BiH, supported by a CoE consultant.

In order to further test the reliability of the tools and the programme and to ensure a unified approach throughout the BiH prison system, the participants agreed to pilot them in the above-mentioned prison establishments for a period of up to four months.

This activity is organized within the framework of the project “Support to the penitentiary system towards sustainable rehabilitation of violent extremist prisoners in Bosnia and Herzegovina”, funded under the Action Plan for Bosnia and Herzegovina 2018–2021.