Structured sentence management for violent and extremist prisoners in Bosnia and Herzegovina
The Council of Europe (CoE) started on 1 November 2018 a 24 months project entitled “Structured sentence management for violent extremist prisoners in Bosnia and Herzegovina”.
The project was implemented in close cooperation with the Ministries of Justice of Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH), Federation BiH and Republika Srpska, and their respective partners from the state and the entity law enforcement agencies, social welfare services, as well as with the civil society organisations and other relevant stakeholders.
The project had an overall budget of 800,000 EUR and was financed thanks to the generous contributions of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office of the United Kingdom (UK) and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).
Project documentation
- Project brief
- Work plan (January - March 2021)
- Work plan (October - December 2020)
- Work plan (July - September 2020)
- Work plan (April - June 2020)
- Work plan (January - March 2020)
- Work plan (October - December 2019)
- Work plan (July - September 2019)
- Work plan (April - June 2019)
- Work plan (January - March 2019)
Useful information
The Council of Europe supports authorities in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) to finalise the tools and programme for violent extremist prisoners
The Council of Europe, in close cooperation with the three Ministries of Justice in BiH and their respective partners from entity and state penitentiaries, organized the final meeting of the Working Group on reviewing and finalising the tools and programme for rehabilitation of violent and...
Project’s closing event - Regional conference on “Addressing radicalisation in prisons and managing violent extremist offenders”
The issue of radicalisation and violent extremism in prisons is a widespread challenge across the Western Balkans region that requires special attention of all relevant authorities in order to effectively address this phenomenon. Further fostering of prison capacities, inter-institutional...
Training session on multi-agency cooperation related to management of violent and extremist prisoners in Bosnia and Herzegovina
An online training session, focusing on the protocols on data/info sharing and multi-agency cooperation related to the management of violent and extremist prisoners (VEP), brought together 35 representatives from the Ministries of Justice of Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH), Federation BiH and...
Training on application of the rehabilitation tools and programme for violent and extremist prisoners in Bosnia and Herzegovina
A 2-day online training session focused on fostering the prison system capacities and staff skills related to management of violent and extremist prisoners (VEPs) in BiH gathered representatives of the Ministries of Justice of Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH), Federation BiH and Republika Srpska. The...
Round Table held to present two strategic documents supporting the system for execution of criminal sanctions in BiH
On 23 November 2020, the Council of Europe organised a round table to present two strategic documents aimed at enhancing the management of violent and extremist prisoners (VEPs), namely the „Guidelines for management, education, and professional development of prison staff working with VEPs“ and...
Informative training on application of the Case Management System (CMS) Manual for Violent and Extremist Prisoners
On 19 November 2020, the Council of Europe (CoE) held the fourth informative training session on application of the CMS Manual for violent and extremist prisoners (VEPs). Prison practitioners from Bihać and Banja Luka prisons, as well as representatives of law-enforcement agencies and social work...
Development of the Screening Tool and list of indicators of radicalisation in prison facilities
On 18 November 2020, the Council of Europe (CoE) held a second Working Group (WG) meeting on the development of a basic Screening Tool and a list of indicators of vulnerability to radicalisation within prison context. Professionals from Zenica and Bijeljina prisons, as well as representatives of...
Online training on application of the Case Management System (CMS) Manual for Violent and Extremist Prisoners
On 29 October 2020, the Council of Europe (CoE) held a training session on the application of the CMS Manual for violent and extremist prisoners (VEPs). Prison practitioners from Zenica and Doboj prisons, as well as representatives of law-enforcement agencies and social work centres coming from...
The Staff Management Strategy for high security units managing violent and extremist prisoners is finalised
The Working Group for development of Staff Management Strategy for high security units managing violent and extremist prisoners met on 29 and 30 September 2020 in Mostar, Bosnia and Herzegovina, to finalise their work on the development of this important document. The Staff Management Strategy...
The Working Group continues with the development of the Staff Management Strategy for high security units managing violent and extremist prisoners (VEPs)
The Working Group composed of representatives from the Ministries of Justice of Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH), Federation BiH and Republika Srpska, prison professionals from Zenica and Bijeljina prisons and two international consultants held an online meeting on 18-19 June 2020 on the development...
Operational capacities for management of the violent and extremist prisoners in Bosnia and Herzegovina further strengthened
Recognizing the challenges posed by the COVID 19 outbreak, during the lockdown period, the Working Group, composed of representatives of Ministries of Justice of Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH), Federation of BiH and Republika Srpska (RS), prison management and professionals, with support by an...
Multiagency cooperation for rehabilitation and resocialisation of prisoners with violent and extremist behaviour
On 13 March 2020, the Working Group (WG) tasked with drafting the Strategic Policy Guidelines for Treatment of Violent and Extremist Prisoners (VEPs) in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) for the period 2020–2025 held its Second Coordination Meeting at which it informed the wider professional community...
Study visit to Norther Ireland Prison, Probation and Police Services
From 05th to 07th November 2019, representatives of the Ministries of Justice of Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH), Federation BiH and Republika Srpska as well as prison managers from the Federation BiH and Republika Srpska participated in a study visit to Belfast, Northern Ireland, United Kingdom...
Second working group meeting to review tools and programmes for violent and extremist prisoners
On 24-25 October 2019, the Council of Europe Office in Bosnia and Herzegovina, in co-operation with the Ministries of Justice of Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH), Federation of BiH (FBiH) and Republika Srpska (RS) and prison establishments from Zenica, Foča, Bijeljina, Banja Luka and Bihać, organized...
Development of A Strategic Policy document on rehabilitation of violent and extremist prisoners and inter-agency cooperation
The first Working Group (WG) session that took place on 10 - 11 October 2019 in Trebinje resulted in the first draft that defined the main principles and structure of a Strategic policy document (Strategy) aiming at facilitating the implementation of operational procedures in prison for violent...
Share experiences and gain knowledge from the Danish prison system on dealing with violent and extremist prisoners
A three-day study visit to Denmark, organised for representatives of the Ministries of Justice of Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH), Federation BiH and Republika Srpska as well as prison managers from the Federation of BiH and Republika Srpska, took place on 24 - 26 September 2019. During the study...
Developing a Strategic Policy Document to facilitate the implementation of operational procedures in prisons for violent and extremist prisoners
More than 20 professionals, including senior officials from the Ministries of Justice of Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH), Federation of BiH and Republika Srpska, as well as prison managers from the Federation of BiH and Republika Srpska, met on 13 September 2019 in Brcko to define guidelines for the...
Enhancing the tools for risk and needs assessment, as well as special treatment programmes for violent and extremist prisoners in Bosnia and Herzegovina
The first working group (WG) session on reviewing and promoting the existing tools for risk and needs assessment, as well as special treatment programmes for violent and extremist prisoners was held on 29 and 30 August 2019 in Neum. It was attended by representatives from the Ministry of Justice...
1st Working Group session for conducting legal analysis of the legislation for development of a Staff Management Strategy
The 1st Working Group session tasked for conducting legal analysis and providing recommendations to the legislation relevant for the development of a Staff Management Strategy for high security units managing violent and extremist prisoners (VEPs) was held on 04 July 2019 in Trebinje....
2nd Coordination meeting to discuss the development of a training manual on the Case Management System for violent and extremist prisoners
On 27 June 2019, around 20 professionals from the Ministries of Justice of Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH), Federation of BiH (FBiH) and Republika Srpska (RS), BiH Ministry of Security, law-enforcement agencies, prisons and social welfare services exchanged ideas and practices on the developments of...
First meeting of the Working Group for drafting the Strategy for selection of prison staff in maximum security prisons
Senior representatives of Ministries of Justice of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Federation of BiH and Republika Srpska, as well as prison managers from the Federation of BiH and Republika Srpska met on 20 June 2019 in Trebinje in order to define guidelines for drafting a comprehensive Strategy for...
Multi-agency co-operation and case management system for violent and extremist prisoners in Bosnia and Herzegovina
The first coordination meeting of representatives of Ministries of Justice of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Republika Srpska and Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, prison establishments from Zenica, Banja Luka, Bihać and Bijeljina and Social Work Centers took place in Brčko, on 16 and 17 May 2019....
Ministries of justice promoting tools for risk and needs assessment, as well as special treatment programmes for violent and extremist prisoners
Representatives of Ministries of Justice of Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH), Federation (FBiH) and Republika Srapska (RS) and prison officials met on 6 March 2019 in Mostar at the first Working Group (WG) session, to start the process of peer review and promotion of existing tools for risk and needs...
1st Coordination meeting under project ''Structured Sentence Management for Violent and Extremist Prisoners''
The 1st Coordination meeting to further develop a training manual on case management system for violent and extremist prisoners was held in Mostar, on 20 February 2019. Representatives of the Ministry of Justice of Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina and Ministry of Justice of Republika Srpska,...
Project Launching event
On 22nd January, Council of Europe presented the new project “Structured sentence management for violent and extremist prisoners” to national and international stakeholders engaged in the area of rule of law. The overall objective of the project is to help enhance safety and security in Bosnia...
European Prison Rules
CPDL Highlights
