European Crime Prevention Award and Best Practice Conference 2024
This year the Hungarian Presidency of the EUCPN will emphasise the prevention of reoffending. The growing number of inmates in many European countries is a pressing concern. Research indicates that the social conditions, educational levels and vocational qualifications of inmates are generally less favorable than those of the average population. Consequently, developing skills and competencies during imprisonment is of utmost importance. Therefore, tertiary prevention, which includes resocialisation, reintegration, and reoffending prevention, must play a more significant role.
The aim of the 2024 ECPA is to identify and promote European best practices that effectively reduce recidivism rates and enhance successful reintegration. The focus of the Hungarian Presidency includes methods that facilitate employment, lawful behavior, and the successful reintegration of adults or juveniles into society during imprisonment through training, employment, or other programs. Projects that support inmates' reintegration in halfway houses fall within the scope of this call for proposals. However, courses and training organized for ex-inmates after their release are not within the objectives of this call. Three-quarters of the activities must involve work carried out within the correctional institution, and one-quarter may pertain to activities after release. The focus should be on activities conducted within the correctional institution, with reintegration programs after release serving as supplementary services.
The type of crime committed by the inmates participating in the project is irrelevant. The project can be organized and conducted by the correctional institution itself or involve activities implemented by NGOs that measurably support the reintegration of inmates into society after release.
Each Member State is invited to submit one project addressing the prevention of reoffending to compete in the ECPA contest. We kindly request that projects for the ECPA be submitted in English to the EUCPN Secretariat (eucpn@ibz.eu), via the National Representatives of the EUCPN. Each EU Member State may submit one entry. The deadline for project submissions is September 30, 2024. The Best Practice Conference, where all national entries will be presented, will be held on December 3-4 in Budapest. The award ceremony is scheduled for December 4, accompanied by a gala dinner in the evening.
On this webpage the template for the ECPA projects and the rules and procedures for awarding and presenting the ECPA can be found. Only projects submitted using the provided template will be evaluated by the jury.