Directorate General

In early December, EuroPris and the Prison Service of Estonia organised a pilot programme for the exchange of prison staff. The Prison Service of the Czech Republic nominated two of its officers, 1st Lt. Dušan Raab and 1st Lt. Lukáš Králíček, who successfully stood out among nearly 40 applicants and were selected among ten participants of the internship.

Together with colleagues from Luxembourg, Germany, Greece, and Slovenia, our representatives visited all Estonian prisons during the exchange, gaining insights into efficient operational management, modern technologies, and approaches to employing and educating inmates. What makes the Estonian prison system particularly notable is not the fact that the participants visited every prison in the system—there are only three in total. However, from the Czech perspective, it is interesting to note that Estonia's oldest prison was opened in 2002.

The five-day exchange took the form of job shadowing, with participants accompanying Estonian staff directly during their daily duties. Special attention was given to the use of innovative technologies, which Estonia successfully implements in its facilities. The program also included a visit to an open prison, which plays a significant role in the resocialization process in Estonia. Additionally, the participants visited the Estonian Prison Service Academy,which presented training programmes and approaches to staff training and further education. Participation in this exchange provided valuable insights and a number of inspiring suggestions  for the development and modernization of the Czech Prison Service.

We sincerely thank our Estonian colleagues for their hospitality and openness in sharing their experiences, as well as EuroPris for organizing this exchange program.