On 17 April, Liepāja Prison hosted the seminar “The New Liepāja Prison: A Platform for Safety Through Responsible Resocialization”, bringing together experts and representatives of state and municipal institutions, employer organisations, and the non-governmental sector to discuss the role of the new prison in strengthening public safety and promoting the successful reintegration of former prisoners into the society.
A modern approach to prison management increasingly demonstrates that public safety cannot be achieved solely through the isolation of offenders. Instead, it is built on positive behavioural change and successful reintegration into society, where an essential role is played not only by prisons but also by a broad social support network.
Opening the seminar, Dmitrijs Kaļins, Head of the Latvian Prison Administration, emphasised:
"The new Liepāja Prison is the fulfilment of generations of professional efforts. A modern correctional facility should not be viewed merely as an infrastructure project, but as an integral part of the national security system, whose purpose is to promote behavioural change and reduce the risk of reoffending. We cannot expect that a person who is simply isolated during imprisonment, without support for personal development, will suddenly behave differently after serving their sentence. It is essential to understand the reasons behind offending behaviour, provide targeted support for change, and ensure that society is prepared to accept the outcomes of that change."
An approach based solely on control and isolation cannot deliver sustainable results. Therefore, a shift towards a model that promotes personal responsibility is necessary. This means actively engaging prisoners in their own development process by building skills, making decisions, and learning to take responsibility for their actions.
If a person in prison is only supervised but does not learn to take responsibility, they often return to previous patterns of behaviour after release. For this reason, the new prison places a strong emphasis on developing skills, fostering responsibility, and strengthening decision-making abilities. This helps prepare individuals for life after serving their sentence.
"While correctional institutions were historically perceived primarily as places of control and discipline, modern correctional services within the European legal framework are no longer merely institutions of custody. They also serve as a key component of security, human rights protection, and resocialization. This requires a much broader perspective. We are no longer talking only about external supervision, but about the ability to influence behaviour, foster responsibility, and create the conditions necessary for lasting change," emphasised Kristīne Beitele, Head of the Training Centre of the Latvian Prison Administration.
At the same time, it is emphasised that resocialization does not end when a person leaves prison. The transition back into society is a critical stage that requires coordinated and continuous support. Individuals return to their communities and to the labour market, where the quality of their future lives is largely determined by the support available to them.
"The work carried out at the new Liepāja Prison is based on the belief that people are capable of change. Our responsibility is to ensure security, but it is equally important to create an environment where professional and motivated staff can help prisoners develop and return to society better prepared for the future. The integrity of our employees and their belief in the possibility of change are the foundation of a modern and humane correctional system," says Māris Dumpis, Governor of Liepāja Prison.
The seminar also featured an expert discussion entitled “From Isolation to Community: How Society Becomes a Partner in Resocialization?”, which highlighted that successful reintegration into society is not possible without close and coordinated cooperation between institutions and the wider community.
The discussion brought together Kaspars Zvirgzds, Deputy Governor of Liepāja Prison; Elīna Tolmačova, representative of the Central Administration of the Liepāja Municipality; Kaspars Gorkšs, Director General of the Employers’ Confederation of Latvia; Ilona Šlisere, Head of the Night Shelter of the Liepāja Social Service; and Linda Ulāne, Project Manager at the association Radi Vidi Pats. The participants emphasised that resocialization is a shared responsibility in which municipalities, employers, social services, and non-governmental organisations all play an important role by providing support in the areas of housing, employment, social skills development, and community acceptance.
Reducing the risk of reoffending requires close cooperation between a range of institutions. Social services provide support in securing housing, developing social skills, and addressing basic needs. Employment support institutions and employers create opportunities for integration into the labour market, which is one of the key prerequisites for a stable and independent life. Meanwhile, non-governmental organisations and volunteers offer individual support, mentoring, and opportunities to strengthen social skills.
This approach creates what can be described as a resocialization ecosystem - an environment in which every stakeholder plays an important role. Social services, employers, non-governmental organisations, and the wider community are not merely observers but active participants in the process.
"The ESF+ co-funded project ‘Security: Responsible Resocialization for Prisoners’ provides an opportunity to strengthen an approach based on coordinated and long-term cooperation. Only through such collaboration can we ensure that individuals who have served their sentence become full members of society. This means not only helping people change during imprisonment but also creating real opportunities for those changes to take root beyond prison walls. Resocialization is therefore a shared societal responsibility - a process in which safety is achieved not through isolation alone, but through genuine and lasting change in people," emphasises Māris Luste, Head of the ESF+ project "Security: Responsible Resocialization for Prisoners" at the Latvian Prison Administration.
On 17 April, the new Liepāja Prison was also officially inaugurated. Designed to accommodate up to 1,200 male prisoners, the facility has already received 166 prisoners, who are provided with a modern environment offering opportunities for education, employment, and the development of social skills. This approach is essential for reducing the risk of reoffending and supporting the successful reintegration of individuals into society.
The opening ceremony was attended by Inese Lībiņa-Egnere, Minister of Justice of Latvia, who emphasised that the development of the prison system represents a significant investment in public safety. The event also outlined future directions for the sector's development, including the construction of a new women's prison in Cēsis with support from the Norwegian Financial Mechanism. The facility will provide the opportunity for children up to four years of age to live together with their mothers.
