Field trips

Four Child Advisory Boards (CABs) have been established in Greece, Estonia, Romania and the Netherlands within the framework of the i-Restore 2.0 project coordinated by Terre des hommes (2019-2021). This EU funded project has the aim to strengthen access to high quality restorative justice processes for children in contact with the law in Europe. Each CAB is composed of young people (aged 16-21) who have various experiences in interacting with both the legal and social systems. This field trip will be led by the young experts who are active members of the Estonian CAB. In a dialogue format, they will help participants to understand how the involvement of children and young people in Estonia is currently taking place so that they can better engage in processes that affect their own lives. Through their encounters and experiences, young individuals will assist professionals in comprehending how to make services designed to support children and young people more child-friendly and develop them further. This field trip is relevant to anyone interested in youth participation in restorative justice advocacy, and, more broadly, to all those reflecting about how to involve people with lived experience in informing their peers about restorative justice. It is also relevant for all those working with children and young people in contact with the criminal justice system and/or who experienced violence in other settings. 

In recent years, the area of application of restorative justice has experienced rapid growth, including complex and serious offences such as gender-based violence. Despite evidence on the applicability of restorative justice in all cases, some resistance and misunderstandings exist on how to best ensure victims support and protection. This field trip will take the form of a  circle with restorative justice experts and local professionals representing  and working with victims (e.g. ministries, victim support, women organisations and other professionals). In the circle, participants will have the opportunity to engage into a facilitated dialogue on the application of restorative justice in sensitive cases such as sexual violence and intimate partner violence. The focus will be on  the benefits of implementation as well as on the risk factors to ensure a safe process for all parties, especially for the victim. The circle format will create a safe space for respectful and constructive exchange,  also to hear about eventual resistance and fears on the offer and implementation of restorative justice programmes in cases of gender-based violence. This field trip is relevant for those with knowledge and/or experience of restorative justice in cases of intimate partner violence and/or sexual violence (or other complex and senitive cases). Participation in the circle requires active involvement and sharing of ideas.

This field trip will end at 18.30 the latest. 

In this field trip you will have the unique opportunity to explore Estonia's newest correctional facility. Led by the Rehabilitation Department Manager, this immersive tour offers a glimpse into our efforts towards resocialization and rehabilitation. During the 1.5 to 2-hour tour, you will embark on a journey through various facets of the prison:
1. Industry Showcase: Witness firsthand the vocational training programs and industries within the prison aimed at equipping inmates with valuable skills for their reintegration into society.
2. Prison School: Explore our school facilities and learn about the educational opportunities provided to inmates, empowering them to pursue academic growth and personal development.
3. Prisoner Housing Units Overview: Gain insights into the living conditions of inmates, understanding the balance between security measures and humane treatment. Explore our housing units designed to promote safety, discipline, and a sense of personal responsibility among residents.
Throughout the tour, our Rehabilitation Department Manager will provide valuable insights into the challenges and successes of resocialization within a correctional environment. 

This field trip will end at 17:30 the latest. 

Estonia has experienced a steep decline both in prison and probation population, at the same time the range of responsibilities carried out by the probation service is continuously expanding. During the visit the participants will have a possibility to visit the probation office, get an overview about the Estonian Probation Service and discuss the future of probation in the context of restorative justice. Currently there are no restorative practices used in Estonian probation but this is about to change in coming years. 

This field trip will end at 17 the latest. 

The Barnahus (literally “Children's House”) model offers multidisciplinary and interagency interventions, organised under one roof in a child-friendly setting, placing the best interests of the child at the centre. In Estonia, Barnahus is a public service of the Social Insurance Board provided to support sexually abused children,  children suspected of being sexually abused or children with harmful sexual behaviour. Children's Houses are located in four cities (Tallinn, Tartu, Jõhvi and Pärnu) but the service is available to all children in need in Estonia. This field trip is relevant for anyone working with children in contact with the criminal justice, in particular in cases of child sexual abuse, and, more in general, for anyone interested in multi-agency cooperation models intergrating different services to support and protect people affected by harm and crime.

You can expect to be back from this fieldtrip at 17. 

Estonia has only one higher education organisation that offers the necessary competences to internal security experts – the Estonian Academy of Security Sciences (EASS). EASS trains, among other professions, police and border guard officers, rescue workers, prison guards and several other experts. Conference participants attending this field trip will get an overview of the curricula and specific competences taught in the EASS. They will also be given a tour of the EASS main building, which is probably  the most modern internal security education facility in Europe at the moment. This field trip is particularly relevant for anyone interested in the links between security studies, police work and restorative justice. It is also relevant for those involved in restorative justice training for criminal justice and legal professionals, and, more generally, for those dedicated to changing the culture of criminal justice systems and professionals from a punitive to a restorative one.

You can expect to be back from this fieldtrip at 17.

The imposing coastal Patarei sea fortress was originally Tallinn’s main marine fortification complex. It was built in the 1820s as a part of more general defense plans inspired by Prussian defense systems. During the Estonian War of Independence (1918-20) the building was converted into a prison and served as such until 2005. Since then, Patarei has been the subject of numerous redevelopment plans, planning competitions and work- shops. Until recentlu, the building worked as a museum with cultural events and parties organised in the courtyard and along the seafront in the summer.
The communist regime of the Soviet Union (in Estonia 1940-1941, 1944-1991) imprisoned innocent people in the historical Patarei fortress on ideological pretext. They constitute only a fraction of all the victims of communism, the estimated number of whom in the world is 90 million. The authentic prison interior of Patarei introduces vividly the nature of communist ideology and the crimes of its implementers in different countries, the stories of the victims of communism, and the eventful history of Patarei since its construction as a naval fortress in the 19th century.
Patarei prison is one of the hundreds of places around the world where communist regimes imprisoned, tortured and murdered innocent people for ideological reasons. As such, Patarei is part of the story of mankind and a convincing revealer of the true nature of communist government and mentality.

You can expect to be back from this fieldtrip at 17.

Photo credits: Tallinn Old Town by Kaupo Kalda