On March 12, 2019, the Conference "Partnership of Religious Organizations in Probation Clients Treatment and in Reintegration of Prisoners" has been held at the Administration of the State Criminal Executive Service (SCES) of the Ministry of Justice of Ukraine. In this conference participated members of the Pastoral Council of the Ministry of Justice, direction of the State Institution "Center of Probation", the Administration of the SCES, scientists of the training institutions of the SCES and probation, as well as representatives of the Association of Rehabilitation Centers.
Pastor Viktor Dudka, Chairman of the Pastoral Council, began the meeting with prayer and blessing of the audience. Director of the State Institution "Center of Probation" Oleg Yanchuk and the deputy head of the Administration of the State Criminal Executive Service on observance of the rights of the convicts and persons taken into custody Oleg Torkunov congratulated participants of the Conference and noted the necessity of developing effective cooperation in the field of probation and post-penitentiary care.
Dr. Iryna Yakovets, Deputy Director of the State Institution "Center of Probation", analysed the national legal framework and the possibilities and needs of cooperation in the social support of probation clients. The representatives of the inter-regional departments of criminal punishment and probation, who are responsible for monitoring the rights of the convicts and those who were taken into custody, told about the interaction of churches and religious organizations with the institutions of the penitentiary system. Consequently, archpriest Constantin Panteley spoke the report "Rules of probation of the Council of Europe and international experience of involving prison pastors and religious communities."
Experts of the training institutions of the SCES and probation delivered their reports. Than, after discussions, work of the Conference was carried out in the sections on the following areas:
As the results of the conference, publication of a collection of materials is expected. It will serve the most effective use of existing and potential resources of religious organizations (including charity organizations and rehabilitation centers founded by religious organizations) in cooperation with bodies and institutions of the Ministry of Justice in probation clients treatment to reduce the risks of illegal behavior and relapse of crime.
Experts of the training institutions of the SCES and probation delivered their reports. Than, after discussions, work of the Conference was carried out in the sections on the following areas:
- interaction of religious organizations with penitentiary institutions on the preservation of prisoners' social ties, preparation before release and social reintegration of former prisoners;
- volunteering of probation and principles of cooperation with religious organizations. Ethics of cooperation of representatives of religious organizations in voluntary programs.
As the results of the conference, publication of a collection of materials is expected. It will serve the most effective use of existing and potential resources of religious organizations (including charity organizations and rehabilitation centers founded by religious organizations) in cooperation with bodies and institutions of the Ministry of Justice in probation clients treatment to reduce the risks of illegal behavior and relapse of crime.
