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The issue of violent extremist and radicalisation poses a challenge not only to the states’ security but also to fundamental values that lie at the heart of the European Union: respect for human dignity, freedom, democracy, equality, the rule of law and respect for human rights. Radicalisation in prison and probation environments is a paramount point of concern. Firstly, people who are sentenced for terrorist acts end up in prison. A part of them will remain hardboiled and are determined to be faithful to their ideology, while others might want to quit their radical activities or want to stop being a member of a radicalized group. A third group are prisoners who are at risk of being recruited and get radicalised during imprisonment. Prison and probation services are, therefore, primary agencies in fostering exit strategies that can help radicals disengage and de-radicalise. The supporting role of the wider community, particularly in the often-difficult transition from prison to release, is vital in this de-radicalisation process. INTEGRA “Integrated community, probation and prison services radicalisation prevention approach” strives to improve the transition process between prison and/or probation systems and the community for those at risk of radicalisation or who have been radicalised. It attempts to achieve this outcome by promoting a holistic radicalisation prevention initiative focusing on skills development of offenders, front line staff and organisations. The project's specific achieved goals are : • To upscale existing practices and understand their role for a holistic prevention of radicalisation and disengagement /de-radicalisation, • To develop a skills-enhancement programme for frontline staff working with inmates throughout its transition back into society, including prison and probation staff, and community organisations working closely with the prison services; • To establish a local mentorship model to support ex-radicals upon release and their families; • To ensure knowledge sharing and collaboration among the relevant authorities and organisations regarding people vulnerable to radicalisation or who have been radicalised, who are in prison and on their release. INTEGRA partnership achieved these goals by developing a State of the Art Analysis and best practices review (IO1), followed by the Needs and Radicalisation Risk Assessment (IO2). Radicalisation prevention training programme for prisons, probation and community as a mentoring model and programme (IO3), a E-learning course and a train the trainer course (IOs 4, 5 and 6).A Multi-agency cooperation guide with policy recommendations for the effective implementation and follow-up of de-radicalisation/ disengagement/ rehabilitation programmes (IO7) The project gathered direct participation of more than 500 persons (less than 850 persons as expected in the begining of the projects mainly because off the the withdrawal of University of Brescia (Italy) midway through the project’s lifespan, as well as difficulties exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic and such as the lockdown, social distancing and barrier measures).This direct paticipation included: a) 170 stakeholders in the desk & field research: • 10 conducted interviews; • 10 conducted focus groups and; • around 80 questionnaires applied to prison governors; b) 35 mentors(the initial number changed after the withdrawal of the University of Brescia as well as difficulties exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic). c) 252 prison, probation and community organisations’ practitioners from 4 countries (the initial number changed after the withdrawal of the University of Brescia as well as difficulties exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic). • 97 trainees in the E-learning piloting team • 155 participants in the short term joint staff training events; d) 28 trainees in the Train the trainer course;(the initial number changed after the withdrawal of the University of Brescia as well as difficulties exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic). e) at least 200 participants in the multiplier events: A total 65 participants in national seminars taking into consideration that the national seminars initial number was affected by the difficulties exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic (one seminar per country with end-users), plus almost more than 90 participants in the final international seminar. INTEGRA’s impact has : -increased awareness about radicalisation and extremism that lead to terrorism in detention environments (national and EU levels); -improved understanding about detecting “red flags” of violent radicalisation and about the prevention and detection mechanisms currently in place in Europe through real-life case studies; -provided better capacity to deal with detainees at risk of radicalisation or already radicalised by receiving training where they will gain new knowledge and tools useful for everyday challenges;- increased awareness and capacity of community service providers to deal with ex-offenders deemed vulnerable to radicalisation and/or ex-radicals along their reintegration process; -increased knowledge about the mentoring schemes as a tool for social support of ex-radicals or previously identified inmates vulnerable to radical messages upon release and their families; -improved multi-agency cooperation and planning for release, by providing prison and probation systems with the tools that allow them to analyse the existing networks, information gathering and communication processes between different agencies (prison-probation-police-intelligence services-community services).
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