Justice Involving Volunteers in Europe

(JIVE)
Issue 10 | December 2015
This newsletter provides regular updates about
the work of the JIVE project and useful
information for voluntary sector organisations,
networks and volunteers in Europe working within
the Criminal Justice System (CJS).
In this issue:
Introduction
Germany: (Ex) offenders as volunteers
Portugal: National conference of volunteers working in
prison
Italy: Pilot of JIVE volunteer training programme
Hungary: Strengthening family relationships for
prisoners
Introduction
This issue focuses on the impact the JIVE project
is having on the activities and results delivered by
partners and other voluntary sector organisations
working in the field.
Germany: (Ex) offenders as volunteers
In the survey produced by BRIK Institute,
University of Bremen, for the report The role and
value of volunteers in the Criminal Justice System
a European study it specifically asked about
the role and involvement of (ex) offenders within
the CJS. About two thirds of the organisations
that responded said they were working with this
group; therefore it should be highlighted that most
organisations value the involvement of ex-service
users as volunteers in their services. Other
research on the topic suggests that volunteering
can facilitate offender rehabilitation; being an

activity by which people willingly offer to

participate in and contribute to over extended
periods of time, it is a good way to foster social
reintegration.
Worryingly, organisations that participated in
BRIKs research highlighted some problems and
restrictions within their countries around involving
(ex) offenders as volunteers. They explained that
(ex) offenders needed to show they had desisted
from crime for some time in order to be
considered for a volunteer role. Some
respondents to the survey criticised the barriers
they are up against, which are predominately
security issues (criminal records check, risk
assessments). Moreover, some prisons do not
allow (ex) offenders to enter as volunteers and
there are restrictions imposed on the type of tasks
and duties they are able to perform which is
usually dependent on the nature of their
offence(s). There is no overall legislation or policy
that governs this with some respondents saying
that decisions are made simply on a case-by-case
basis.
For the clients being supported by the volunteers,
there is a positive impact on their behaviour over
time as the (ex) offender has lived experience
and can support the volunteer in a way that
others cannot. There is this sense that they know
what Ive been going through. This increases the
continuity of contact as well as establishing levels
of trust and trustworthiness between both parties.
The (ex) offender acts as a model having
successfully desisted from crime themselves.
Volunteering has an impact on the (ex) offenders;
it is a rewarding and mutually beneficial
opportunity which may reduce social stigma and
isolation in the community. It is a positive activity
that will build social skills and enhance their social
network, as well as an opportunity to give
something back to the local community (the
wounded healer phenomenon).
For more information contact Eduard Matt, BRIK,
University of Bremen, Germany

Portugal: National
working in prison

conference

of

volunteers

The General Direction of Prison and Probation

Service (DGRSP), Cruz Vermelha Portuguesa
(Portuguese Red Cross) and Aproximar (JIVE
partner) hosted the second national conference of
volunteers working in prison on 17th November, in
Lisbon.
Approximately
130
volunteers
(representing 35 organisations working in the
CJS) were present as well as 50 directors and
technicians of the Prison Service and networks
(such
as
the
Volunteering
Portuguese
Confederation and Lisbon Town Hall).

Disseminate projects and

opportunities in prison settings

volunteer

Aproximar presented Volunteering in a prison

environment: contexts and trends at a European
level. They focused on some of the achievements
of the JIVE project to date, stressing the need for
the Portuguese volunteer sector to organise itself,
highlighting Clinks as a model for creating an
infrastructure organisation. The idea seems to be
popular and Aproximar hopes to continue the
JIVE dissemination efforts following up on this
lead.
Aproximar highlighted the JIVE volunteer training
programme and the recent project resources The
role and value of volunteers in the Criminal
Justice System: A European study and "Design
and Delivery of Volunteering in the Criminal
Justice System".
They have had more than 1,000 views on partner
and event websites, Facebook, and LinkedIn
pages, and we have received requests for training
and for our JIVE newsletter, and last but not least,
they have also reached 800 prison sector
volunteers.

(Organisers of National conference of volunteers working in prisons)

The conference aimed to address five areas:

Recognise the importance of volunteering

in prison and reintegration of (ex)
offenders

The JIVE project is really picking up some pace

within Portugal!
More information:
https://www.facebook.com/events/164857543869
3671/
http://www.voluntariadoprisional.pt/

Reaffirm the value of volunteers as a

dynamic approach within prisons and
improving prison conditions

Italy: Pilot of JIVE volunteer training programme

Value and promote volunteering as a

method of intervention targeted to
supporting the prison population

During October 2015, JIVE partner Cooperativa

Sociale Cellarius began the pilot of the JIVE
volunteer training programme.

Contribute
to
the
recognition
of
volunteering through reflection and
sharing of good practice at national and
international level

The programme is designed for organisations to

train volunteers working with (ex) offenders, their
families and victims of crime. The organisations
involved were: Caritas, Alfabeto del Mondo,
Donne al Traguardo and Opera di Redenzione

Sociale Assistenza Carcerati (ORSAC). They

work within prisons with inmates, and within the
community with people on probation and with
victims of crime. A total of 21 volunteers were
involved in the pilot.
The programme was designed to include 6
classes for a total of 18 hours, plus 5 online
sessions for a total of 15 hours using the online
platform designed by Aproximar. Two further
meetings have been planned in other locations;
one at the Job Service's Centre, to develop the
module around networking with other local
agencies, and the other in Isili's correctional
facility to focus on the module around the
organisation of prisons. The results of this pilot
will feed into the overall design of the training
programme, led by Aproximar.
For more information email Fabrizio Floris or visit:
http://www.coopcellarius.it/
Hungary: Strengthening family relationships for
prisoners
The purpose of Tvelygkrt Foundation is to
increase the chances of reintegration of (ex)
offenders and reduce juvenile crime rates by
strengthening family relationships through the
projects listed below. In Hungary, there are
18,000 prisoners and 40,000 children affected by
familial imprisonment.
Mirk project focuses on father and child
relationships. Children are in need of, and are
entitled to, contact with their parents. Depending
on how this contact is implemented it can either
hinder or improve the childs relationship with their
parents, and thus determine its future. The family
and the prison environment are important factors
in the efforts for social reintegration, therefore
connecting them plays a major role in increasing
the chances of reintegration and reducing stigma.
The project organises special visits where father
and child can be with each other in an informal
setting.

The programme is based on the Penitentiary

Tale programme, set up in 2011 within
Balassagyarmat prison (strict and medium
regime). The prisoners write, dramatize and
perform plays that are acted out in front of their
children and members of the public at special
visits or other occasions such as religious
holidays. A programme called Childrens Time is
also organised regularly within the prison. Fathers
are involved in drawing, playing and singing
activities with their children. In addition, the
project visits the children in their homes and gives
donations to families in need. So far, it has helped
more than 200 children.
The Plan-B programme offers halfway
accommodation to those who cannot reunite with
their family, or need to move to safe
accommodation with their family. It also helps
reintegration of individuals by offering assistance
with finding work and learning opportunities.
Use of the current accommodation used by the
project has been made possible with the
cooperation of the owner, the volunteers, and the
prospective tenants. The premises were
renovated by (ex) offenders and some volunteers
using donations and materials collected by the
Foundation and its supporters.
From 50 plus inmates who have been involved in
the Penitentiary Tale programme, only 2 have
returned to prison during the first 6 months of
their release compared to the national average of
60% within the first six months of release.
The Mirk project is funded by Norway Grants
until May 2016 and the Plan-B programme is
financed through public donations. We aspire to
continuously train our volunteers and recruit new
ones.
As of early 2016, there are two families on the
waiting list needing support from the Plan-B
programme so we are seeking another affordable
and vacant site in Budapest or indeed any kind of
support to create more halfway accommodation.

Please get in touch if you would like to help or

find out more:
www.tevelygokertalapitvany.info
www.facebook.com/tevelygokert

Volunteers are often in a position to

provide more of a personal response.
They can provide an invaluable link to
the community which can be very
important when challenging public
perceptions about (ex) offenders.

For more information about the JIVE project

please contact robert.price@clinks.org

This project has the financial support of the Criminal Justice

Programme of the European Union. The contents of this newsletter are
the sole responsibility of the project partners, and can in no way be
taken to reflect the views of the European Commission.