The Latvian Centre for Human Rights in co-operation with Ministry of Justice and with the financial support of the European Commission in 20th of April, 2005 organised a seminar on ‘Models of Prison Employment’. Professor Ursula Smartt, an independent prison consultant (Thames Valley University, UK) gave an overview of the current situation and trends in prison employment and prison industries in selected European Union Member States, United States (federal prisons) and Australia (Western Australia). The seminar also highlighted problems and challenges faced by employers in starting employment schemes in the Latvian prisons. The seminar was one of the several events aimed at assisting Ministry of Justice working group tasked with drafting concept paper and relevant legislation concerning prison employment.

Program of seminar

9:45-10:00 Registration of participants

10:00-10:10 Opening, Anhelita Kamenska, Latvian Centre for Human Rights.

10:10-10:20 Prison Employment in Latvia – Ministry of Justice perspective, Ilze Juhansone, Undersecretary for Strategic Issues, Ministry of Justice

10:20-10:40 Prison Employment: Case of Latvia, Ilona Spure, head of Social Rehabilitation Division, Latvian Prison Service

10:40-11:25 Examples of good practise: individual prisons, Latvia

                    10.40-10.55 Lidija Bolšakova, Deputy Governor of Ilģuciems Women’s Prison

                         10:55-11:10 Roberts Balodis, Valmiera Prison, Deputy Governor

                          11:10-11:25 Kristiāns Bredermanis, employer at Brasa Prison

11:25-11:40 Questions and Discussion

11:40-12:40 What works in prison industries and correctional labour? Prisoner employment and prison industry programmes from selected European countries, the United States (state and federal correctional industries) and Australia (Correctional Services of New South Wales), Prof Ursula Smartt, Independent Prison Consultant, Thames Valley University, United Kingdom

12:40-13:10 Questions and discussion

13:10-14:00 Lunch