From 22 to 23 May 2023, as part of the European Union and UNODC co-funded project “Support to Justice Sector Reform in the Kyrgyz Republic: Advancing Probation and Integrated Justice Information Management (JUST4ALL)”, a delegation from Kyrgyzstan visited various institutions and gained insights into the Austrian criminal justice system.

Some of the visitors took part in the tour of the Detention Facility Korneuburg, while the others spent the morning at the organization “NEUSTART” to get a better understanding of the Austrian probation service. The afternoon was spent at the Regional Criminal Court Korneuburg and Prosecutor’s Office Korneuburg for a presentation on the electronic case management system followed by a tour of the Regional Court. The second day began at the Austrian Federal Data Processing Center, where the delegation learned about integrated correctional administration in the penitentiary system. The day ended at the Austrian Federal Ministry of Justice, where the visitors were provided with an overview of the Information Management System of the Austrian justice system.

From 24 to 26 May 2023, the delegation traveled on to the Netherlands, where the participants gained a general knowledge about the Dutch criminal justice system while also focusing on a few specific topics: cybersecurity and personal data protection within the criminal justice system, probation and rehabilitation services (including utilizing electronic tools to facilitate effective monitoring services), and effective measures for crime prevention.

Over the course of three days in the Netherlands, the delegation engaged with various institutions renowned for their expertise in justice sector reform to foster the knowledge exchange. On day one, the delegation attended a presentation at The Hague University of Applied Sciences on cyber space, new technologies and the criminal justice system with a focus on cybercrime, hacktivism, preventative measures, and challenges surrounding prosecution. The day concluded with a visit to the Dutch Probation Service for an in-depth look into the role of probation in the criminal justice system, including best practices and challenges. On day two in The Hague, the delegation heard from experts from the “Care and Safety House” (an NGO specializing in crime prevention) as well as “street coaches” who are actively engaged in crime prevention and safety at the local level. On day three, the Kyrgyz delegation met with a representative from the Amsterdam Municipality who gave a lecture on the Top400 and Top600 approaches incorporated by the city to enhance crime prevention.

This study visit gave the delegation from Kyrgyzstan the opportunity to learn about effective measures and gain valuable insights for enhancing the Kyrgyz criminal justice system. The visit not only fostered international collaboration but also provided essential learning opportunities that will contribute to the ongoing justice sector reform efforts in the Kyrgyz Republic. By incorporating best practices, innovative approaches, and experiences shared during their visit, the Kyrgyz Republic aims to further strengthen its pursuit of a fair, efficient, and effective justice system.

“Support to Justice Sector Reform in the Kyrgyz Republic: Advancing Probation and Integrated Justice Information Management (JUST4ALL)” is a four-year project co-funded by European Union and UNODC, and implemented by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC). It promotes humanization of the criminal justice system in the Kyrgyz Republic and is geared towards scaling up the country’s capacity to implement its criminal justice reforms in line with international standards and norms as well as best European practices. The project is divided into two main components addressing two areas of criminal justice reform: probation and criminal justice information management The Ludwig Boltzmann Institute of Fundamental and Human Rights (LBI-GMR) is an implementing partner who oversees the second component of the project.