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The pre-defined project “Establishment of a new prison block in Olaine prison, including construction and training of staff” is launched

Ministry of Justice as the Programme LV08 “Reform of the Latvian Correctional Services and Police Detention Centers” operator and Latvian Prison Administration (LPA) on the 18th September, 2013 have signed project agreement on the implementation of the project “Establishment of a new prison block in Olaine prison, including construction and training of staff”.

The project “Establishment of a new prison block in Olaine prison, including construction and training of staff” will be implemented in the frame of Programme LV08 “Reform of the Latvian Correctional Services and Police Detention Centers” of the Norwegian Financial Mechanism.

The main goals of the project will be reached in 4 activities:

1. Development of staff capacity;
2. Establishment of a new prison block, equipment and inventory purchases;
3. Implementation of resocialization measures;
4. Project management.

Within the framework of the first activity several sub-activities for prison staff will be carried out, with a goal to improve their knowledge about the specifics of work with addicts. In the frame of the activity will be carried out:

1. Study visit to the partner countries (Poland, Norway).
2. Development of the programs and documentation:

• development of risk and needs assessment (RNA) documentation;
• development of resocialization program for prisoners with addiction problems;
• development of social skills acquisition or restoration program.

3.     Trainings of specialists:

• training of penitentiary system specialists in implementation of RNA;
• training of Olaine center specialists to work with resocialization programs;
• training of prison specialists to work with social skills acquisition or restoration program;
• training seminars for all prisons’ and Probation service staff in work with addict persons.

Within the framework of the second activity there will be developed a technical project and construction work of the new center for addicts there will be carried out in the Olaine prison area. Part of the 3.acitivity resocialization measures for deduction of the addiction will be carried out for the prisoners with addiction problems in this center.

Implementation of resocialization measures for prisoners with addiction problems will be carried out within the framework of the third activity, RNA will be implemented in all prisons of Latvia, LPA will implementactivities in cooperation with NGOs, LPA will carry out HIV/AIDS prevention programme, sport and leisure activities, create library and infrastructure for e-environment for implementation of education programs and access to actual legislation.

Implementation of the project will last starting from 18 September 2013 till 30 April 2016.

Total estimated project cost is 8 277 294 EUR, of which 7 035 700 EUR is the co-funding from the Norwegian Financial Mechanism, and 1 241 594 EUR is Latvian co-financing.