Specialised juvenile justice approach established
Ministry of Justice of Estonia ·Estonia
About this project
<p><span style="font-size: 11px"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><span style="color: #333333">Financed from NO FM</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size: 11px"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Programme outcome the project contributes to: “Enhanced wellbeing of children and youth”</span></span></p> <p style="text-align: justify"><span style="font-size: 11px"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">The project supports the specialized juvenile justice approach in practice to ensure minimal negative effects for youth and support positive development. The implementation of juvenile justice reform in Estonia is carried out in accordance with international standards, EU directives and best practice and with a focus on the most vulnerable young offenders. </span></span></p> <p style="text-align: justify"><span style="font-size: 11px"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Project activities:</span></span></p> <ul> <li style="text-align: justify"><span style="font-size: 11px"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">A training programme for professionals working with youth in contact with the law, incl. technical assistance (coaching/mentoring and supervision), and the strengthening of capacity on strategic planning, coordination and monitoring in the juvenile justice system; </span></span></li> <li style="text-align: justify"><span style="font-size: 11px"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">The development of tools for evaluation and multi-agency cooperation, incl. a system for risk assessment of young offenders in pre-trial proceedings (validation of instruments, piloting and training);</span></span></li> <li style="text-align: justify"><span style="font-size: 11px"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">The establishment of alternative interventions to fines and institutionalisation for youth, incl. short-term behaviour-based interventions applicable by police or in cooperation with healthcare, schools, youth work. The project will support access to multi-dimensional family therapy approaches to youth offenders on probation and capacity-building for professionals working with youth with intellectual and developmental disabilities (awareness raising, training and adjustment of interventions); </span></span></li> <li style="text-align: justify"><span style="font-size: 11px"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">The establishment of a volunteer mediators system aimed at developing a restorative approach to juvenile justice and better access to mediation;</span></span></li> <li style="text-align: justify"><span style="font-size: 11px"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Increasing the use of restorative justice and restorative methods in the criminal justice system - prisons and probation;</span></span></li> <li style="text-align: justify"><span style="font-size: 12pt"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif"><span style="font-size: 11pt"><span style="font-family: "Arial", sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 11px"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Improving conditions in closed facilities for children and youth as an alternative to prison, incl. the introduction of in-treatment methods and services aimed at re-socialisation, and specialised training for prison staff to work with institutionalised youth.</span></span> </span></span></span></span></li> </ul>
Bilateral cooperation results
Main cooperation took place with Norwegian Mediation Services as Oslo Police withdrew from the project due to internal changes in the organisation. Norwegian Mediation Services was of great assistance in developing the volunteer mediation system in Estonia as well as training the restoratice justice practicioners (study trip to Norway as well as in Estonia). The cooperation with the Norwegian Mediation Services is continuing also after the end of project activities.
Project partners
- Oslo Police District Donor project partner· Norway
- Norwegian Mediation and Reconciliation Services Donor project partner· Norway
- Estonian Social Insurance Board Project partner· Estonia
- Prosecutor's Office Project partner· Estonia