From the 2nd until the 5th of July 2019, the Criminal Justice Platform Europe organised the 2nd edition of the Criminal Justice Summer Course together with the Centre of Legal Studies and Specialised Training in Barcelona. This years theme was ‘Criminal Justice in a Polarised Society’. 

The Summer Course existed of a combination of workshops, plenary sessions and field visits bringing together participants with a background in prison, probation and restorative justice from a variety of European countries. The aim of the Summer Course is to offer an unique opportunity for criminal justice colleagues from different jurisdictions to reflect on what impact polarisation is having upon crime. Extremist views in the media attract huge attention, reactions across society can create anxiety, anger, harm, politics and religion seem more divisive than ever and professionals in the criminal justice system have to find a way to engage with diverse offenders and prevent paths that may lead to further violence. By sharing ideas and considering the very latest research and programmes, participants of this Summer Course were stimulated to engage with the debate on polarisation and to make a positive contribution back home.

The workshop for probation officers was about doing social inclusion in a polarised society, given by Professor Ioan Durnescu. The aim of the workshop was to deepen the understanding and develop the skills around post-prison inclusion of former terrorists. In one of the workshops he was joined by Håkan Järvå, a psychologist specialised in disengagement from extremist groups and religious movements and a former member of the Scientology movement.

You can find the workshop reports and presentations below.