Presentation on the Annual General Meeting of www.europris.org in Brussels Shared presentation with Prof.Dr.Marc Theeboom (Vrije universiteit Brussel)

1. Sport in prisons
Marc Theeboom
Kris Hermans

2. De Rode Antraciet
Belgium
Prisoners on the move:
move into sport, move through sport!
Kris Hermans

3. Context
Belgium:
Ministry of Justice
Federal
Sport
Culture
Education
Employment
Health
Welfare
Regional

4. Context
Regional Sport policy
- Specific target group : prisoners
Stimulating actions from:
Regional Sport Movements, federations,
communities (local policy plans)clubs,…
Create awareness
- Specific umbrella organisation:
Regional Policy plan ‘sport in prison’
+ local translation in coöp with ministry of justice

5. Prisoners on the move:
move into sport, move through
sport!
Preparatory Action
January 2011 – June 2012

6. OBJECTIVES
[1] strengthen
networking between cross-sectional
organisations/services and providing an (inter)national platform for future actions;
[2] collecting, sharing and analysing
sport programs
and social
inclusion in the field of sport and detention;
[3] examining
methodologies and strategies
which build up the social competence of prisoners through sport;
[4] facilitating the cooperation
between the field of
sport and detention to set up common sport initiatives
[5] making
informed recommendations to decision
makers and preparing future actions in the field of sport and detention.

8. IN GENERAL
# DIFFERENCES
&
ONE GOAL

9. What we did
Research ‘sport in prison’
Policy plans on…
Context of…
Management of…
Literature study
(Where is it situated, Map Structures, Links,…)
(Staff, infrastructure, …)
(Methods, Practices, evaluation, …)
Awareness
Virtual platform
www.prisonersonthemove.eu
Documentary ‘Free to Play’
Recommendations + Public conference (June 2012, Paris)

10. RECOMMENDATIONS
& examples

11. Recommendations
1. Policy in general
2. Network
3. ‘Means’ to achieve… !
4. The sports offer
5. Knowledge

12. 1. Policy
Recognise the added value of sport,
! it is not unconditional…
Examples:
- Large potential, but small value in general
- Sport as a means to achieve vs. Sport as a goal
- Exact solutions do not exist = practice-based evidence

13. 1. Policy
Long- term vision
& involve stakeholders into prisons
Examples:
- Re-inventing the wheel vs. translate (sport) policy to prison
context depends on: legal situation, authorities &responsabilities
- Levels: International, national, regional, local
- Attract expert organisations
ethn.diversity, youth, seniors, drug-abusers, mentally ill …

14. 1. Policy
Strategic Policy Plan
clear & measurable objectives
Examples:
- Provide national/regional framework & local possibilities
- Use recognisable terms for external partners
- Based upon needs…
- Value / Stimulate / Create … the goodwill to implement!

15. 2. Network
International
– Awareness
– Shared responsability
complementary and mutually reinforcing
– Active exchange of good/bad practices

16. 2. Network
National / Regional
– Umbrella organisation/platform
permanent place for discussion, feedback, exchange of
knowledge (projects & experiences), …
– Multi-actor approach
Cooperation and innovation with sport, culture, health,
welfare, education, employment,…

17. 2. Network
Local
– Internal: information, involvement, …
– External: Multi-actor approach
Local community, clubs, volunteers, social
network,…
Inclusion into …

18. 3. „Means‟ to achieve… !
Trained Staff
– Internal / External
– Sporttechnical / Social
– Motivated & Supported (!)
–…
-> a policy plan they can operate in…
and appreciative colleagues

19. 3. „Means‟ to achieve… !
– Infrastructure & Equipment
– The start of it all …
– Sustainability
–…

20. 4. The sports offer
IMPORTANT:
Not:
What / How / when / ….
But:
Structural offer

21. 4. The sports offer
Participation
(taking part / being part)
prison staff
outsiders
family members
…
prisoners themselves

22. 4. The sports offer
Sport = stepstone
get to know …
promotion of …
guide prisoners to …
learn about …

23. 4. The sports offer
Individual / group responsabilties
–Structure / habit / need
–Meaningfull leisure time
–Engagements
–…
Get a grip on their time inside prison,
and create a habit for continuation
outside

24. 4. The sports offer
Good practice:
Sport as a training / education medium
that can be used outside prison
University education in sports?
Referee / fitness trainer / …

25. 4. The sports offer
Good practice:
Participation of inmates in
community events
From the inside or go outside

26. 4. The sports offer
Good practice:
Specific programs on
building up social competences
Experiental learning
Personal and social development

27. 5. Knowledge
Lack of…
Extensive and profound knowledge
Long term follow-up studies
(int+ext)
Other experiences (int./nat.)

28. In need of …
1. Policy
2. Network
- Justice & Sport
- (Inter)national / local
3. Means to achieve
4. Good practices
5. Research

29. Publication

30. Pan-European Conference
„Sport & Prisons
(Scheduled for June 2014)
The future
Organised by EPAS in JUNE 2014 in collaboration with the
French Olympic Committee
Preparation: In cooperation with the “Vrije Universiteit Brussel” and “De
Rode Antraciet” a questionnaire has been developed and sent to the Members
of the Council for Penological Co-operation
Aim:
Identify and analyse good practice examples in the field of benefits of
sport in prisons
Respondents: Directors of Prison Administrations and Probations and
Members of the Council for Penological Co-operation
→
Replies to the questionnaire are expected by 9th December 2013
After the conference, the analysed results as well as the best
practices identified will be compiled into a Handbook on sports
in prison environments.

31. Pan-European Conference
„Sport & Prisons
(Scheduled for June 2014)
The future
→ Internet link regarding the online questionnaire:
http://www.surveygizmo.com/s3/1317372/Sport-in-European-Prisons-An-EPAS-Survey
Contact :
François TRICARICO
Deputy Executive Secretary / Secrétaire exécutif adjoint
Council of Europe / Conseil de l'Europe
Bâtiment Agora - Bureau A6.50V
1, quai Jacoutot
F-67075 STRASBOURG Cedex
FRANCE
Phone / Téléphone + 33 (0)3 90 21 43 94
http://www.coe.int/epas
Francois.TRICARICO@coe.int

32. www.prisonersonthemove.eu