Peer Pro-Social Modelling in Probation Erasmus Project

Project Title

Peer Pro-Social Modelling in Probation

Project Key Action

This project related with these key action: Cooperation for innovation and the exchange of good practices

Project Action Type

This project related with this action type : Strategic Partnerships for adult education

Project Call Year

This project’s Call Year is 2017

Project Topics

This project is related with these Project Topics: New innovative curricula/educational methods/development of training courses; Intercultural/intergenerational education and (lifelong)learning; Research and innovation

Project Summary

Peer Pro-social Modelling in Probation (PPROMPT) project aimed to structure a peer pro-social modelling, through the development and implementation in probation systems enhancing both the competencies of management and probation experts to address offenders’ needs. Project targeted to explore and implement an approach that builds social capital and resilience within people that are under probational measures. The need for more innovation and effectiveness in working with offenders,the great potential of peer education and The EU recommendations around the peer education were the reasons behind implementing this project.

Specific goals included:
1. To develop andragogical materials (manuals and programme contents) that support training for both staff and management in the field of peer training and pro-social model interventions;
2. To develop and pilot a “train the trainer” course for probation workers in each country, giving them the ability to train, continuously, selected well- behaved offenders on peer training and pro-social modelling;
3. To train the selected pool of inmates in each country on pro-social modeling and peer training, under the supervision of the probation trainers
4. To analyse the pilot sessions and revise the manuals accordingly before disseminating the programme.

The Project covered building up a Peer Pro-Social Model Team, trained by the Probation staff – professionals of this field. The selected well-behaving offenders were trained on newly prepared Pro-Social Model Programme and were expected to work as peer trainers for the others.

The project needed to be a multicultural one since;
*Special attention should have been paid to the selection of peer volunteers, to ensure that they are appropriate for the role, have the right motivation to complete the training.
*The topic had to be handled by a consortium, composed of different cultures, experience and practices.
*The probation staff needed to be well-trained both on the techniques and the possible problems that may arise during implementation phase which needs a full co-operation.
*Training probation staff supported the system’s sustainability in all partner countries, where released offenders can be replaced by the new offenders trained by the probation staff.

The outputs of the project are;
*A need assesment survey on the present probation groupwork and semminar activities was done;
*A report on literature review and analysis of best practices on peer training was prepared;
*A report on meta-analysis of pro social modelling practices was developed;
*A curriculum on peer pro-social modelling in probation systems was structured;
*A manual on peer training was prepared;
* PPROMPT Life Skills Training Programme was prepared (It is a cognitive behavoural program focusing on the most important criminogenic needs like criminal attitudes, decision making, offending behaviour, planning for the future, family life, leisure time. The programme is interactive, structured and gives answers to the needs of the probationers);
*Train the trainer course material for probation experts was prepared;
*22 probation experts coming from partner countries attended a 5 day “training of the trainers programme”.
*Train the trainer course for the offenders were held in 3 different countries;
*In the piloting phase trained offenders in different countries delivered the newly prepared programme to other offenders under the supervision.
*Under the dissemination activities, 3 national semminars were organized in Turkey, Romania and Portugal.
*Total number of adults who have benefited from the project added up to approximately 1000 persons.

As a result of the PPROMPT Project:
*A Peer Pro-Social Model system was structured for the Probation System.
*The efficiancy of the groupworks and semminar programmes were increased.
*The capabilities of the staff working for the Probation System were improved.
*New methods on the rehabilitation and the reintegration of the offenders were structured and tried within the system.
*The service quality in the Probation System of the partner countries was increased.

The following actions to be taken in future will be adjusting the program in the light of the lived experience and evaluations , expanding the program to other probation services and other correctional settings and distributing the program to other probation services across Europe.

EU Grant (Eur)

Funding of the project from EU: 182628,25 Eur

Project Coordinator

Adalet Bakanligi Ankara Denetimli Serbestlik Müdürlügü & Country: TR

Project Partners

• DIRECAO-GERAL DE REINSERCAO E SERVICOS PRISIONAIS
• European Strategies Consulting
• QUALIFY JUST – IT SOLUTIONS AND CONSULTING LDA