In July 2023 the Council of Europe and the Slovenian Prison Administration finalized the development of a new Risk and Needs Assessment tool that will be used to determine the level of risk and classification of each prisoner. The same tool will help prison staff identify needs the of detained persons as part of their individual plan and eventual release and reintegration back to the society.

The drafting of the tool started in April 2022, and a first draft was presented in October. In November twenty-two staff members from seven different prisons in Slovenia including social pedagogues, psychologists and representatives of the Head Office familiarized themselves with the new tool and acquired the necessary skills for the use of the tool.

The Risk and Needs Assessment tool was further tested in practice by the prison treatment staff during a 6-month pilot phase (January-June 2023). A meeting was organized at mid-term, in March 2023 to collect feedback and exchange experience from piloting. The test phase helped adjust and insert corrections that will ease the implementation of the tool in practice.

By the end of 2023 the Slovenian authorities, supported by the Council of Europe, will design a Roadmap for the implementation of the tool and a Guide to help secure the future use of the tool and the on-site application by prison treatment staff.

The Council of Europe supports the Slovenian Prison Administration within the framework of the project “Improving the juvenile justice system and strengthening the education and training of penitentiary staff” funded by the European Union via the Technical support instrument and implemented by the Council of Europe in cooperation with the European Commission.