Prison reform project: Algeria

Following an exploratory visit of the Director and Professor from ICPS in November 2006, the first activity of a one year project between ICPS, the British Embassy in Algiers and the Algerian Direction Generale de l'Administration Pénitentiaire et de la Réinsertion was a UK study visit by nine senior officials, led by ICPS consultants Andy Barclay and Alistair Bailey in July 2007.

In a comprehensive programme of workshops, presentations and visits to six prisons and the Prison Service Training College, the Algerian delegation were given the opportunity to gain an understanding of how the Prison Service of England and Wales is managing their service to work towards meeting international Human Rights standards.

In addition they spent a day with the Chief Officer of Leicestershire Probation Service and her staff examining the role of the Probation Service in the Criminal Justice system. The feedback from the Algerian delegation was very positive and we look forward to future activities.