NCJ Number
188229
Date Published
October 1999
Length
9 pages
Annotation
These two articles examine cooperation with Central and Eastern Europe.
Abstract
Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania started the reform of their administration before the reestablishment of their independence in 1991. Since then several programs and activities have been launched by the Council of Europe in the Baltic States, but designed differently in each country. The three countries have agreed to exchange official information about imprisonment, cooperate in staff training, and share practical experiences. Since 1989, the Polish prison system has adopted a principle of openness, which includes contact with States on the country's eastern and western borders as well as more distant neighbors. The article describes Poland's cooperation with prison systems in England, Wales, and Germany. It gives special attention to Poland's cooperation with the Hungarian prison service. That relationship includes joint activities and holiday exchanges, genuine friendship, and understanding in cases of need. The Polish prison service has drawn up similar cooperation agreements with Slovakia and Estonia, formally setting out the conditions for organizing training exchanges and even holiday exchanges between the services. See NCJ-188228-30 for papers pertaining to the same topic.