In the District Prison in Subotica, change does not come overnight. It begins quietly, often in moments that might seem small to an outsider- a pause before reacting, a different choice made in a difficult situation, a willingness to speak up.
For Dajana Perčić, those moments are at the heart of her work as a treatment officer. “As a treatment officer in the District Prison in Subotica, my job involves an initial assessment of the condition, needs and capacities of convicted persons, based on which an individual programme is developed for each person, as well as implementing that programme throughout the entire duration of the sentence,” she explains.
Her role spans far beyond routine tasks. It includes organising work opportunities, training sessions, educational programmes, cultural activities, individual counselling and structured group psychological programmes. Progress is continuously monitored and supported, while preparation for life after release is an integral part of the process. “My job also involves encouraging and mediating support for the convicted person from their family, social environment and relevant institutions in the post-penal period,” she adds.
Yet, working with people deprived of liberty requires more than structure, it demands trust. “Assuming that we can draw quick conclusions and simple actions in working with convicted persons based on previous knowledge or experience is extremely naive, and ultimately ineffective,” Perčić says. Many individuals enter prison with a heightened sense of distrust, carefully shaping how they present themselves to others.
Building an authentic relationship is therefore essential. “I believe that an authentic relationship is necessary for success in working with this population, and that the key concept is co-operation, through which trust is gradually developed,” she explains. Real change, she notes, only begins once a person feels safe enough to lower their guard.
Support and continuous learning play a crucial role in this process. “In a situation of deprivation of liberty and placement in a correctional institution, an individual loses much more than the possibility of free movement,” she says. Motivating someone in such circumstances is challenging, which is why professional tools and guidance are indispensable. “Every new training represents new knowledge, an opportunity and an idea for work and enriching practice, which is invaluable in the deprived context of convicted persons.”
Through the action "Enhancing human rights protection for detained and sentenced persons in Serbia", which is part of joint European Union and Council of Europe programme "Horizontal Facility for the Western Balkans and Türkiye", structured group programmes have been introduced and are now an integral part of treatment. These include work with people struggling with drug and alcohol addiction, perpetrators of domestic violence, and individuals convicted of violent offences, as well as general cognitive-behavioural programmes.
The results are often subtle, but meaningful. “Each new workshop reflects progress; it is up to us as facilitators to notice even the small ones and reinforce them properly so they can continue to develop,” Perčić says. She recalls moments when even the most withdrawn participants begin to engage. “When the most withdrawn group member feels confident enough to share with the group an example of resolving a newly arisen provoking situation in a new way, and I see that the group supports him in their own way, I know we have achieved a lot.”
For her, the most powerful signs of progress are found in everyday reflections. “Personally, I consider the small, everyday indicators of change the most significant, such as reporting ‘I remembered first to breathe and think’, which indicate that a person has made a concrete attempt to change and noticed its positive consequences.”
These programmes offer more than support, they offer direction. “Each implemented programme offers individuals the opportunity to recognise previous cognitive patterns that led them into unhealthy emotions and contributed to dysfunctional behaviour,” she explains. They also provide concrete tools to build new, more effective ways of functioning.
Still, sustaining change remains a challenge once individuals leave the prison environment. “Of great importance for the continuation of the change process would be improving post-penal support for convicted persons in our country,” Perčić emphasises. Returning to old environments without continued support can be overwhelming, making long-term reintegration more difficult.
Behind prison walls, transformation rarely makes headlines. But in small, consistent steps, new paths are being built- ones that begin with trust, grow through support, and continue beyond release.
