The Baltic type of the European penitentiary systems

The article examines the Baltic type of penitentiary systems which acts as a site for the verification of the actively implemented Western models in the sphere of criminal sentence execution. It shows that this type is characterized by one of the highest prisoner rates among all types of European penitentiary systems, as well as by a large number of prisoners who are citizens of foreign states in the total number of convicts. The Baltic type is characterized by the departure from the Soviet model of the penitentiary system and by the implementation of predominantly Western European models. This is facilitated by the active cooperation of Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia with the authorities of penitentiary institutions of European countries and their participation in various international projects on the development of progressive forms and methods of treatment of prisoners (DAPHNE Strong, New Horizons, VINN, TACIS, etc.). Prison conditions in many correctional facilities are based on a prison cell model of prisoners' accommodation with elements of a progressive system. In some semi-open prisons, primarily in Latvia, convicts are accommodated in dormitories for 30-60 people. However, the Western model of the regime sets more requirements for ensuring the security of correctional facilities. The elements of the regime are not clearly detailed in legal acts, they are established and changed in the extrajudicial order, but under judicial control, the personality of the convicted person and its changes while serving the sentence are the criteria for changing the regime. Correctional institutions actively introduce individual programs for punishment execution, and use toxicological testing. There is quite a detailed legal regulation and vigorous work of penitentiary institutions on educational and resocialising work with underage convicts. The emergence and construction of private prisons and pre-trial detention centres in the three countries (especially in Latvia) is partly conditioned by the public trust in this institution, and is also predetermined by the solution of problems of state funding of penitentiary institutions through public-private economic partnership in this area. It is emphasised that reports of the representatives of the European Committee for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment who visited the Baltic countries note violations of the rights of convicts or other shortcomings in the organization of the activities of prisons. A conclusion is drawn that the analysis of the Baltic penitentiary type allows to look more closely at the prospects of reforming the domestic penitentiary system.

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