Within the framework of the bilateral project "Strengthening the capacity and visibility of the prison and probation systems", financed by the Norwegian Financial Mechanism, representatives of the Prison and Probation Directorate of the Croatian Ministry of Justice, Public Administration and Digital Transformation, led by Acting Director General Zvonimir Penić, visited the Agder Prison and Agder Probation Service on 28-31 January 2024 to gain insight into the concept of Dynamic Security in Norwegian prisons
Dynamic Security is a specialised approach of the Norwegian prison system to the management and operation of prisons, which is considered one of the most advanced concepts in the world. It implies that officers prioritise daily communication and interaction with prisoners based on professional ethics, and aims at better understanding of prisoners and risk assessment, as well as increasing safety and compliance with the rules, contributing to rehabilitation and preparation for release.
Participants in the study visit included managers of penitentiaries and prisons and representatives of the Security Sector and the Department for Psychological Support to Prison and Probation Officers, and all participants agreed on the exceptional usefulness of the visit, which resulted in numerous ideas for implementation in the Croatian context. As a result of this project activity, a proposal for a training programme on dynamic safety is expected, so that we can implement the observed good practices into our system.
