Alternative PRE-TRIAl Detention measures: Judicial awareness and cooperation towards the realisation of common standards

ended

According to the Council of Europe, there are currently 1,229,385 inmates incarcerated in the penal institutions that comprise the organisation’s Member States, of which 22,4% are under pre-trial detention (PTD). The issue of PTD should not be overlooked since its excessive use negatively impacts not only detainees and their fundamental rights, but also their families, communities, and even countries’ financial resources. In addition, it is impossible to neglect the organisational impact on prison systems. By promoting judicial cooperation between EUMSs and raising policy makers and stakeholders’ awareness on the topic, Alternative PRE-TRIAl Detention measures: Judicial awareness and cooperation towards the realisation of common standards (PRE-TRIAD) project aims to build the groundwork for the realisation of common standards with respect to fundamental rights on the practical application of PTD (and its alternative measures), while fostering the application of the Council Framework Decision 2009/829/JHA of 23 October 2009 by EUMSs. Its main activities comprise: i) developing a state of the art, comparative research and needs analysis (WP2); ii) drafting recommendations on PTD European (and national) legislation and application (WP3); iii) organising awareness raising seminars (WP4); iv) developing dissemination & mainstreaming through the planning and development of national workshops, an international dissemination event at EJTN, and a final public international conference (WP5). PRE-TRIAD is expected to enhance the knowledge of judicial professionals (judges/magistrates) on various national legislations concerning PTD application; to upscale awareness of judicial professionals (judges/magistrates) regarding PTD conditions in European prisons and on the application of PTD, its alternatives and application according to each context; & to upscale the capacity of judicial professionals to effectively apply the Council Framework Decision 2009/829/JHA.