On March 19, the Penal System Oversight Council began its work at the Ministry of Justice of the Republic of Lithuania. Among its members are criminologists Dr. Rūta Vaičiūnienė and Dr. Simonas Nikartas, delegated by the Law Institute of the Lithuanian Centre for Social Sciences.

Aiming for a more open and modern penal system focused on support and resocialization, the Ministry of Justice has assembled ministry and penal system representatives, criminologists and other researchers, human rights experts, as well as non-governmental organizations and representatives of prisoners.

During the first meeting, participants discussed the importance of staff competence and psychological well-being in the penal system; the transparency, clarity, and effectiveness of prison regulations, probation, and parole systems; the expansion of work opportunities for prisoners; and other topics aimed at building a more progressive penal system.

More information: https://tm.lrv.lt/lt/naujienos/teisingumo-ministras-inicijavo-bausmiu-vykdymo-sistemos-prieziuros-taryba/

Photo by the the Ministry of Justice of the Republic of Lithuania.