Retour Training on investigative interviewing techniques and communication strategies in the penitentiary system in Georgia

Training on investigative interviewing techniques and communication strategies in the penitentiary system in Georgia

On 15-16 November 2021, a 2-day training session was held for the general inspection staff of the Ministry of Justice on investigative interviewing techniques and communication strategies for prisoners with emotional or mental health problems.

The general inspection staff frequently interact with prisoners with emotional or mental health problems, and being aware of the ways to approach and communicate with them, while protecting their needs, will foster more efficient investigations and help prevent human rights violations.  

The training programme included modules on the profile of prisoners with emotional and mental health problems, personal perceptions of prisoners with emotional or mental health problems and subjective barriers to communication, investigative interviewing techniques and prisoners’ participation in the investigation process. As a result, the general inspection staff and investigators are better equipped to communicate with the prisoners more effectively, while taking into account their emotional state, and obtain accurate and reliable information, with respect to their human rights and dignity.

 

This training is organised in the framework of the project “Enhancement of Human Rights and Health-Care Support to the Penitentiary System”. The Project is funded by the Council of Europe Action Plan for Georgia.

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The Project will assist the national authorities in improving healthcare in prisons and in particular the provision of mental healthcare to inmates. The project will also assist the continuation of the suicide prevention programmes and will increase professional capacities of the penitentiary system staff with a focus on special trainings for the psychologists and medical personnel employed in the system, it will also support capacity building of the staff of National Preventive Mechanism and Public Defender’s Office, and raise awareness of inmates on healthcare issue and access to relevant services.

 

The goal will be achieved through assistance aimed at:

(a) improving the access of inmates to quality psychiatric care, treatment, and rehabilitation programmes; and

(b) establishing an effective internal control mechanism on the provision of healthcare in prisons.

  • An improved regulatory and policy framework for dealing with persons with mental disorders and drug-addiction in prisons;
  • Enhanced operational procedures for staff dealing with prisoners in need of mental healthcare;
  • A draft regulatory framework to ensure quality monitoring and control mechanisms for healthcare delivery in prisons, finalized and submitted to the authorities;
  • The capacity of staff in charge of the healthcare services in prisons strengthened;
  • An increased awareness of inmates on available healthcare programmes.

Partners: Ministry of Justice of Georgia; Public Defender's Office; National Preventive Mechanism; relevant civil society organisations.

End beneficiaries: inmates, probationers, society at large. 

The Project builds on the results of European Union - Council of Europe Joint Programme on “Human Rights and Healthcare in Prisons and Other Closed Institutions in Georgia” (2010-2017), and the project on “Improving Mental Health Care of Persons Detained in Georgia” (2018-2019).

A combination of needs assessments, expert advice, round tables, working groups and experts’ meetings, tailor-made training programmes will serve the achievement of the goal of the project.

The total budget of the Project is 600 000 Euros.

The Project is part of the Council of Europe Action Plan for Georgia.

The project runs until the end of November 2021.