A 3-day study visit to the Irish Prison Service was organised from 25 to 27 April 2017 for a group of 7 employees working in the area of rehabilitation of sentenced persons in several penitentiary institutions in the country and the Directorate for Execution of Sanctions.

The main aim of the visit was to get acquainted with the treatment programmes and courses available for specific categories of prisoners. Accordingly, the delegation visited three different facilities and met with the respective prison governors, psychologists working on treatment programmes, probation officers, medical and other prison staff, with whom they discussed the policies and treatment of women offenders (Mountjoy Female Prison), prisoners convicted of committing sexual offences (Arbour Hill Prison) and treatment of life- and long-term prisoners (Wheatfield Prison).  The delegation also met with representatives from the Irish Prison Service and the respective Training College.

The participants in the study visit were members of the working group engaged in drafting the three specific modules for the treatment of vulnerable groups of prisoners, with focus on life- and long-term sentenced persons, women and sex-offenders. The study visit allowed them to observe good practices and increase their knowledge prior to the launching of the pilot phase of the three modules, which is scheduled for May–June 2017 and will take place in the 2 biggest prisons in the country.

The study visit was organised within the scope of the Action ‘’Strengthening the protection of the rights of sentenced persons’’, co-funded by the European Union and the Council of Europe within the “Horizontal Facility for Western Balkans and Turkey”.