Strengthening resocialization efforts in Ukraine for a more humane, effective, and responsive justice system
In August 2024, the NHC organised a 4-day “Private Public Partnership (PPP) Workshop” in Yaremche, Ukraine, as part of our project on “Advancing Justice and Accountability in Ukraine: Strengthening and Support of the Prison System”.
The concept of “Public-Private Partnerships” (PPPs), as relevant in the context of resocialization, was presented by Martin Speelman and Frank Schaap from the Dutch Ministry of Justice and Safety, on the example of the Dutch Zaanstad prison. The Zaanstad Penitentiary Institution is a PPP project, offering a 27 year concession to finance, construct, operate, and maintain a new penitentiary for the State of the Netherlands. The complex was opened in 2016, can accommodate over 1,000 detainees, and is characterised by its humane nature, with safety for both staff and detainees at the core.
Zaanstad exemplifies how PPPs could also be integrated into the resocialization component of a recovery plan for detention facilities in Ukraine, which the NHC is developing within this project. Apart from PPPs, the workshop in Yaremche addressed innovative resocialization methods, capacity-strengthening for the Ukrainian Ministry of Justice, and strategies for preventing professional burnout among personnel. There was room for exchange of experiences and best practices from other countries, with a presentation on the engagement of NGOs in prisons in Serbia given by Darjan Vulević, Project Coordinator in the Center for Research, Transparency and Accountability (CRTA). We concluded with a panel discussion on the collaboration between prison and probation in the resocialization of offenders, with Jochum Wildeman, Head of the International Department of the Dutch Probation (Reclassering Nederland), Femke van der Meulen, Strategic Management Advisor of the Dutch Prison Service, and Yurii Lutsenko, NHC’s resocialization expert.
The workshop was followed by 10 participants present in Yaremche; representatives of the Ukrainian “Center of Probation”, employees from Ukrainian penitentiary facilities (namely from Drogobytsk Correctional Colony No. 40, Lviv Penitentiary No. 19, and Zbaraz correctional colony No. 63), members of the Penitentiary Academy of Ukraine, and colleagues from the Department for the Execution of Criminal Punishments in Ukraine.
The in-person workshop enabled lively discussions and led to the recommendations presented across strategic, middle, and operational levels aimed to enhance the effectiveness of the criminal justice system by promoting greater cooperation, support, and rehabilitation for both staff and individuals within the system.
Participants agreed it was crucial to establish a legislative framework that facilitates closer cooperation and information exchange between probation and prison institutions. This would ensure a more seamless transition and better coordination of efforts in the resocialization of individuals. Additionally, increased investment in social housing, specifically “half-way house” types of initiatives, would provide essential support to vulnerable youth, particularly those from orphanages who require additional resocialization.
Enhancing the status and role of prison staff was similarly seen as vital, as their well-being and professional development directly affect the rehabilitation outcomes of those in their care. Finally, at the operational level, participants agreed the focus should be on equipping individuals in prison with practical skills that can aid their reintegration into society. By providing comprehensive education and training opportunities, prisons can empower individuals to lead productive lives post-release, reducing recidivism and contributing to overall societal well-being.
Together, these recommendations outline a holistic approach that addresses the structural, social, and individual aspects of the criminal justice system, ultimately fostering a more effective and humane approach to rehabilitation and reintegration in Ukraine.
