Penal Reform International
Budget
€4,612,600
EP Access
0
accredited persons
Staff
5
2.5 FTE
EU Grants
€1,698,198
Mission & Goals
Our vision is of safe societies worldwide based on fair and effective criminal justice systems that protect human rights and are non-discriminatory. PRI has three strategic objectives: 1) To rehabilitate, reintegrate and empower people in contact with the criminal justice system 2) Criminal justice practitioners apply human rights in their daily practice 3) Fewer people are criminalised, sanctioned and imprisoned We advocate criminal justice reform at national, regional and international levels, engaging with governments, authorities and inter-governmental organisations. Our regional offices deliver practical programmes, often in partnership with local civil society partners, promoting and implementing human rights and international standards. We develop and disseminate information and resources through our publications and website. We build the capacity of local civil society organisations to address penal reform in their work and give them a platform.
EU Legislative Interests
PRI follows EU legislative and policy developments on criminal justice with regard to internal Directives and Recommendations, including child-friendly justice and procedural rights, especially EU Directives 2016/800 - Safeguards for children and 2016/343 - Presumption of innocence and right to be present, as well as efforts around non-discrimination. This includes input on the consultation on the ‘Commission Recommendation of 8.12.2022 on procedural rights of suspects and accused persons subject to pre-trial detention and on material detention conditions.’ We also follow external policies that are in development, e.g., on torture and death penalty. PRI also contributes to the implementation of Framework Decisions 829/JHA on the mutual recognition of decisions on supervision measures and 947/JHA on the mutual recognition of judgments and probation decisions.
Communication Activities
Through EU-funded projects, "Protecting the Procedural Rights of children in the Digital Age" and "Empowerment of the Framework Decisions 2008/947 and 2009/829 through EU Probation Services", PRI is organising national and regional events and bringing key stakeholders together to strengthen the implementation of the above-mentioned legal frameworks. In 2024, we published an EU-wide mapping study on monitoring violence against children in the detention setting and developed a monitoring tool and guide to help facilities better understand and respond violent incidents. In 2025, we published a cross-country analysis report on remote hearing's impact on procedural rights of children.
Interests Represented
Does not represent commercial interests
Member Of
European Council for Juvenile Justice Global Forum for Law, Justice and Development Human Rights and Democracy Network International Drug Policy Consortium World Coalition Against the Death Penalty Child-Friendly Justice Network
Organisation Members
None.
Commissioner Meetings
No recorded meetings with EU commissioners.