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Helping Offenders Live in Freedom Makes Us Safer
"In many cases, we do not think about it, but offenders will eventually be released from prison. So, it is better to release them earlier with supervision than to keep them locked up until the very last day without supporting their reintegration into society," explains Gintarė Burokienė, Head of the Resocialization and Supervision Department of the Lithuanian Probation Service, who shared insights on alternative punishments.
In Europe, alternatives to imprisonment, like electronic monitoring, are becoming more common. According to the Council of Europe, around 50,000 offenders in Europe used electronic bracelets in 2021, and this number is expected to rise to 77,000 by 2026. Lithuania is also moving toward using these alternatives more widely.
"There is growing recognition that it is important to focus on punishments carried out in the community, allowing offenders to stay connected to regular life and making their reintegration easier. The types of crimes eligible for alternative sanctions are also expanding, now including theft, robbery, and violence," says Burokienė.
In Lithuania, probation means that an offender receives a prison sentence, but the sentence is postponed for a certain time with specific responsibilities, or they may be released early but remain under the supervision of probation officers. Currently, most offenders who are released on probation are subject to intensive monitoring, which includes wearing an electronic ankle bracelet.
Offender's Daily Schedules – Planned to the Hour
Burokienė emphasizes that each offender on probation is treated individually. Probation officers meet with them every week or two, creating detailed schedules that include daily activities like where they will go, why, and how long they will stay.
In cases of restricted freedom, the offender might be required to stay home during certain hours or stay away from certain places or people. If the person breaks any rules, probation officers immediately investigate, even contacting the offender's family to ensure their safety and monitor potential risks.
"The offender is monitored 24/7 with the ankle bracelet. If they do not follow their planned activities, we act right away. We work with the offender and their family to understand their environment, identify risks, and reduce them. We also check if they are using alcohol or drugs," Burokienė explains.
Probation officers also help offenders develop time-management skills, discipline, and responsibility. For people who have been isolated for a while, this process helps them reintegrate into society. Even things that seem simple to others, like planning daily activities, can be challenging for someone who's been locked up.
"Offenders on probation often lack basic social skills, like knowing how to talk to an employer or manage their emotions. If someone has no job or home and no support, the risk of reoffending increases. Probation officers work with non-governmental organizations to prevent that," she adds.
We Are Neighbors and Colleagues of Offenders
While technological tools like electronic bracelets help maintain public safety, the public often associates justice with harsh punishments.
"Society still stigmatizes offenders, thinking they should be isolated and not helped. But they are part of society too. Once someone serves their sentence, they need help because they have already paid the price. While in prison, they have lost their freedom, their job, and severed connections with loved ones.
Correctional institutions offer various programs to help offenders change their behavior and adapt: finding jobs, stable housing, repairing family relationships, overcoming addictions, and receiving psychological help.
However, society's role in reintegrating offenders is just as important. If an offender feels ostracized by their neighbors or coworkers, they may lose the motivation to change. In some cases, offenders prefer to serve a harsher sentence (like imprisonment) instead of wearing an ankle bracelet. This shows how crucial it is for society to actively support reintegration," says Burokienė.
When it comes to violent offenders, society and non-governmental organizations work hard to help victims, but it's also important to work with the perpetrator to prevent future violence.
"We need to address the reasons behind their violence, teach them to control their emotions, and help them change. Without proper intervention, the risk of more victims rises," she notes.
Stricter Monitoring of Offenders
Lithuania has been using electronic monitoring since 2012. Since 2020, new advanced technologies have been implemented with the help of funding from the Norway Financial Mechanism. These technologies allow for better monitoring of offenders and more efficient enforcement of court decisions.
The number of monitoring devices in Lithuania increased to 1,300 by 2022, allowing for better control of offenders' behavior and expanding the role of electronic monitoring as a tool for both control and resocialization.
The project also created new positions like social workers and specialists for electronic monitoring and mediation. Burokienė highlights the importance of social workers who help offenders while they are still incarcerated, evaluating the environment they will return to and ensuring they get the support they need.
"We must ask ourselves what kind of behavioral progress we want from offenders. It is not about punishing more; it's about helping them. Would we prefer a situation where offenders receive help and resocialization, or where they leave prison and no one cares about their future behavior? We believe the support package is crucial," says Burokienė.
Sandra Remeikienė, head of the Lithuanian and International Investments Department at the Central Project Management Agency, which administers the project, adds, "We are glad that the project allowed us to adopt good practices from Norway, strengthening the resocialization of offenders and contributing to public safety."
In 2023, more than 3,000 offenders in Lithuania were monitored with electronic ankle bracelets.
About the Justice and Home Affairs programme
The Justice and Home Affairs programme is strengthening the rule of law in Lithuania. Various measures of the programme increase the efficiency of the Lithuanian judiciary and prosecution service, improve the penal enforcement system, strengthen the competences of the judiciary and law enforcement authorities and inter-institutional cooperation in the field of domestic and gender-based violence, and improve the capacity of the police in fighting crime. In total, more than €40 million has been allocated to the programme for the period 2014-2021. The programme is operated by the CPVA and implemented in partnership with partners.