Expert group
Foreign Nationals in Prison and Probation
One country’s foreign national prisoner is another country’s citizen imprisoned abroad. This dual perspective is key to the work of the Foreign Nationals in Prison and Probation Network (FNPP) and important, we believe, to appreciating and understanding the issues of foreign prisoners. The FNPP Network believes that the responsibility for the rehabilitation, resettlement and risk reduction of foreign national prisoners is a shared one for every country in Europe.
The group
The present CEP & EuroPris Foreign Nationals in Prison and Probation Network has developed from a number of European organisations who supported their nationals imprisoned abroad and which first met together in the 1980s. In 1993, this group formed into the European Group of Prisoners Abroad (EGPA). In 2007 it became a Special Interest Group (SIG) of the European Confederation of Probation (CEP). In 2013 with the creation of EuroPris, it was felt that the interests of the SIG could best be met through a joint CEP & EuroPris Foreign Nationals in Prison and Probation Expert Group. In 2019 following an organisational review, it changed to a Network, reflecting its focus and work.
The CEP & EuroPris Foreign Nationals in Prison and Probation Network is unique in Europe. Its membership comprises organizations working with their nationals imprisoned abroad, statutory prison and probation organizations working with foreign national prisoners and foreign nationals on community sanctions & on post-release licence in the community as well as academic and non- statutory members. EuroPris and CEP work by using expert groups and expert networks respectively, with different processes & procedures for membership and administration. The organisation, membership and administration of the FNPP Network combines both these approaches.
The aims of the FNPP Network are therefore necessarily wide, covering the objectives of organizations, statutory and non-statutory, working with their nationals imprisoned and on community sanctions abroad as well as foreign nationals of other countries, imprisoned or on community sanctions in their country. These needs are complementary and produce a shared perspective with common objectives and purposes focused on effective rehabilitation and resettlement and the reduction of the risk of reoffending, based on European and international instruments, guidance and recommendations with a human rights perspective.
The CEP & EuroPris FNPPP Network works collaboratively to improve the management and resettlement of foreign nationals in European prisons by assisting in the collection, sharing and dissemination of information and expertise that provides value to interested individuals, groups and CEP and EuroPris Members.
Aims and objectivesÂ
To promote better national regulation and best practice for Foreign Nationals in Prison and Probation in Europe. This will be addressed by contributing to a greater awareness of FNPP issues through work, study, cooperation and collaboration with specialist organizations, groups and experts to improve the management, rehabilitation and resettlement needs of FNPPs.
To achieve these aims, the CEP & EuroPris Foreign Nationals in Prison and Probation Network will:
Members
Members of the CEP Expert Group on Foreign Nationals in Prisone and Probation are national non-governmental organisations or statutory agencies in a number of European countries who offer assistance and support to:
- their nationals (and, in some cases, those who are habitually resident in their country) who are in prison abroad
- and/or families of prisoners abroad
- and/or returning prisoners
They are inclusive (i.e. open to all), not discriminate or have any bias (e.g. religious or other) and are guided by the principles and aims of the CEP Expert Group on Foreign Nationals and wish to ensure, through their activities, the social and physical well-being of detainees abroad. Their activities include:
- gathering and providing information to detainees about judicial system and prison rules in the detaining country
- support for prisoners in penal institutions in the detaining country
- preparation on request of background reports for courts and penal institutions about the person concerned
- provision of assistance to the family of detainees
- promotion of parole
- provision of assistance to ex-detainees on return to the country of origin
- recruitment, education and establishment of volunteer networks to assist and support prisoners abroad
Associate members of the CEP Expert Group on Foreign Nationals are organisations who offer assistance and support to foreign nationals in prison in their own country. They can include:
- Organisations who deal with displaced prisoners (i.e. foreign nationals in prison in the country where the organisation is based)
- Organisations who offer restricted services (e.g. only in a certain area or only in a certain category) to:
- prisoners abroad
- and/or families of prisoners abroad
- and/or returning prisoners
- Those who are aiming to set up an organisation offering services to:
- prisoners abroad
- and/or families of prisoners abroad
- and/or returning prisoners
- Provide a free service
Past events
Interested in our past events? Or would you like to relive the highlights? Check out all our past events here
CEP and EuroPris Foreign Nationals in Prison and Probation Expert meeting, online (January 2024)
Recommended by expert group members
Below you will find recommendations and practices from the expert group.
Our knowledge of Foreign Nationals in Prison and Probation
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