Social Rehabilitation of Offenders
Avo Üprus
Baltic Crime Prevention Institute
Estonia
Centre of Social Rehabilitation (CSR)
• Vision: healthy and secure moral society.
• Mission: development of civil society through
increase of security in the society
• Moral and social healing of the society based on
Christian ethics;
• Actions: development of special social work ;
implementation of social rehabilitation; crime
prevention through special programmes for highrisk persons.
Institutions of CSR
• Shelter/rehabilitation centre for released
prisoners in Tallinn
• Shelter for released prisoners in East Estonia.
• Accommodation and counselling for homeless
people in West Estonia.
• Accommodation and counselling for homeless
people in Saaremaa.
Baltic Institute for Crime Prevention and Social
Rehabilitation
Goal
Spiritual and moral healing of the society through development
and implementation of restorative justice and social crime
prevention.
Restorative approach is a way of thinking leading to multifaceted practice of
lawmaking and occupational programmes and projects, what effectuates
the healing of affected people, the cleaning and animating of
environments and relationships essential to the social way of being.
Restorative justice has its roots in restorative approach to impaired
human relationships and to peace and order in the society.
Baltic Institute for Crime Prevention and Social Rehabilitation
Conflict
Baltic Institute for Crime Prevention and Social Rehabilitation
Definition
• Rehabilitation: „the process, programmes and
support systems used to restore someone to a
more healthy and useful place in society and
life.“
Handbook of Restorative Justice (Willan Publishing, 2007, p 635)
Mission impossible
Estonia 2008 at a glance
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Population 1,25 million
Territory 45,1 thousand km2
Registered crimes 50, 977
Convicted persons 11574
Prisons 5
Prisoners 3 656 (272 per 100 000)
2029 released persons (incl. 807 under
probation)
Restructuring aftercare measures
Vision of the Ministry of Justice
Social worker/chaplain of the respective prison draws up a
release plan for the detainee including all necessary services,
which is to be forwarded to the social worker/chaplain of the
local municipality before the detainee is released. The social
worker/chaplain of the local municipality pays a visit to the
detainee at the prison.
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The detainee has to visit his/her support person at the
counselling centre during a short visit before the release.
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After being released the detainee appeals to the regional
counselling centre, where he or she will be counselled by the
professionals (including by probation supervisors).
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Detainee receives respective services.
Our vision
• To increase of rehabilitation programmes in
prisons.
• To focus programmes according to crises and
needs.
• Accommodation for at least 200 persons in 6
rehabilitation centres ( 1,5 million EUR).
• Network of support persons (community
chaplaincy).
• To continue with programmes of effective and
humane treatment , to support the re-entry into
community.
Treatment during the time of
imprisonment
• Meaningful activities …
• Preparation for the release …
• Respect /respectful treatment ...
Meaningful activities
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promoting education,
developing emotional intelligence,
teaching skills,
reducing disinclination for thinking,
reckoning emotions,
expanding values,
and guaranteeing employment.
Preparation for the released
• motivation for crime-free lifestyle.
• motivational interviewing and prosocial
modelling as a way for learning.
• practical help and information.
• breaking exclusion, building trust and
inclusion.
Respect
• Respect or respectful treatment is a human
right. Guaranteeing this right is the obligation
of the prison administration. This approach is
possible and there should be courses provided
for the prison officials on this issue.
• Dignity is a cornerstone for rehabilitation. By
restoring the dignity we build a humane
society of human beings.
Thank You!
Baltic Institute for Crime Prevention
Estonia, Tallinn
www.crimeless.eu
+ 372 50 20 857
Avo.uprus@crimeless.eu