7è Seminari de les Escoles Europees de Formació Penitenciària (EPTA) Barcelona, del 25 al 27 de juny de 2014

1. NEW EXPERIENCES RELATED TO THE
MANAGEMENT OF PRISON’S SECURITY
BelgiumBelgium

2. Consultation body

3. History
2005: Law of principles:
the creation of “consultation bodies” where
inmates can express themselves on matters of
community interest of the life in the prisoncommunity interest of the life in the prison
2007: pilot projects
2011: all the prisons
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4. Composition of the consultation body:
• President: a governor
• Staff
– a chief officer
– a secretary– a secretary
– depending on the agenda: expert
• Prisoners
– Minimum 4 representatives;
– always number prisoners > number of staff
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5. Appointment of the representatives of
the prisoners
• By election.• By election.
• All the inmates can run for membership of the
consultation body.
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6. The ground rules
• Minimum one gathering of the consultation
body each trimester
• The consultation body gives recommendations
(no decisions)(no decisions)
• No treatment of individual complaints
• The representatives of the inmates can
organize preparatory meetings – only visual
control
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7. Themes
• The prison shop
• Sport, education, cultural activities, TV• Sport, education, cultural activities, TV
• Visit
• Work
• Telephone
• Infrastructure
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8. Challenges/recommendations
• Staff has to support the consultation body
explanation of the role/utility, sensitize
• Remand prisons: a great turn-over of inmates
not always enough candidatesnot always enough candidates
• answer quickly on the demands
• Change: communicate to all the inmates
that’s a result of the consultation body
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9. Conclusion
• The consultation bodies evolve positively:
collaboration, communication
• Not for great problems as the infrastructure
• Consultative body leads to dialogue
• More mutual consideration
• The consultation bodies improve the climate
in the prisons
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