Slide 1

An Overview of the PrisonSystem in Lithuania

Sandra Stanytė

Social worker

Vilnius archdiocese CARITAS

In Service Training Course "Training Teachers and Instructors to Teach in Prisons/Detention Centres"

General Information (1):

There are 15 penal institutions subordinate to the Prison Department enforcing pre-trial detention sanctions and custodial sentences imposed by court, 49 territorialcorrection inspections that are responsible for the execution of sentences alternativesto imprisonment and supervision of persons released on parole.

The training Center of the Prison Department organizes the training of the newlyhired staff of the institutions subordinate to the Prison Department.

According to law, imprisonment institutions are classified into institutions of sentenceexecution and pre-trial detention centres; institutions for juveniles and for adults; andinstitutions for men and for women.

According to the security level, imprisonment institutions are classified into prisons(high security), correctional work colonies (normal security) and colonies-settlements(semi-open).

The correctional work colonies, which are the main places for serving custodialsentences (above 90% of all convicted persons serve their sentences there) are,according to the forms and the level intensity of the supervision and monitoring ofinmates, classified into three regimes: common, strengthened and strict.

General Information (2):

Once the court has imposed a custodial sentence, in accordance with thePenal Code it must also designate the type of institution (prison, correctionalwork colony, reformatory work colony or correctional work colony-settlement) and the regime (common, strengthened or strict).

The assignment of an individual convict to a specific institution is decided bythe Correctional Affairs Department (Prison Department) after anobservation period during which the prisoner is subjected to a personalityassessment process.

Characteristics of the probation service:

A clear cut system of probation does not yet exist in Lithuania. Probationtasks are carried out by correction inspectors, which are subordinate to thePrison Department of the Ministry of Justice.

The correction inspections deal with adults as well as juveniles. The age ofcriminal responsibility is 16 years (for serious offences the age is 14 years).

A few non-governmental organizations, like Lithuanian Caritas, dailyengagement centres and groups of social risk for juveniles, shelter homesat monasteries as well the Red Cross and the Prisoners’ GuardianshipAssociation of Lithuania (also non-governmental organisations) are involvedin probation work. In general these organizations prepare projects foreintegration of sentenced persons.

Inmates work at the prison:

The Code of the Execution of Punishments provides that the reformatorymeasures in which inmates are involved are regime, correctional activities,work, general education and vocational training.

Work is a duty for prisoners. The administration of an institution must ensurethat inmates perform a job which corresponds to their working capability andprofession.

Normally, inmates work in the enterprises of institutions. Currently, only about30% of all inmates are employed. The number of the inmates in Lithuanianimprisonment institutions who work is one of the lowest in EU. Only 15 % ofinmates perform industrial work and almost the same number of them doordinary domestic jobs.

In Lithuania very rarely inmates have a possibility to work or study outside theprison.

State enterprises:

State enterprises, the ownership rights and duties of which areimplemented by the Prison Department, function at threepenitentiary institutions.

Sentenced prisoners are employed in the state enterprises.Furniture, electric fittings, various metal moldings, door and windowbindings are produced in the enterprises. Bedclothes, work clothes,work footwear are also made therein and vehicles are repaired.

The production by inmates is of the identical quality as thatproduced by ordinary enterprises, though in the majority of cases itis less expensive.

Educational programmes for prisoners:

Prisoners without any profession must participate in vocational trainingprogrammes. If inmates are willing, the programmes for upgrading theexisting skills and for training in new profession can be organized in theimprisonment institutions.

Around 30% of convicted persons seek to gain any kind of education in theimprisonment institutions. This percent rather increased comparing 12 yearsago. This could be explained that earlier prisoners were with bettereducation.

The Law on Pre-Trial Detention provides that detainees in pre-trial detentioncentres must abide by the regime requirements. These persons can workonly in the territory of the pre-trial detention centre, provided that there isconsent and permission to this effect by the officer who investigates thecase or the court.