Professor Kieran McCartan, Professor of Criminology at UWE Bristol, was recently invited with the Council of Europe, by the Greek government to talk to the Ministry of Civil Protection about their approach to managing people convicted of a sexual offense in prison.
Kieran had worked on the recommendations on the assessment, treatment, and integration of people accused or convicted of a sexual offense for the Council of Europe. The Greek government wanted to talk through those recommendations as well as the research and evidence landscape across Europe.
The Council of Europe emphasized the need for risk assessment, treatment and proper management of sexual offenders based on a person-centered approach, evidence-based practice, and the involvement of multi disciplinary teams of professionals. Victims and community support, the role of Probation, the staff selection and training as well as the media and communications strategy to be followed, were also discussed.
The ultimate objective of the new prisons should be reintegration of the sexual offenders. To this end, Council of Europe will follow up the implementation of the two Ministerial Decisions for the designation of two sex-offenders’ only prisons and stands at the disposal of Greek authorities for further support in view of the European Court of Human Rights and other member States jurisprudence and practices, as well as the findings of the European Committee for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CPT).
Read more on the Council of Europe website.