R4JUST

The R4JUST project aims to prevent and reduce the risk of radicalisation and violent extremism within prison systems by promoting a multi-sectoral approach across justice sectors. The project focuses on enhancing the competencies of prison and probation staff, as well as judges and prosecutors, while fostering coordinated cooperation and networking between criminal justice and judicial stakeholders involved in preventing radicalisation.

The project’s core objectives include:

• Developing and piloting a multi-level Radicalisation Risk Assessment and Prevention (RRAP) Toolset, tailored for prison governors, frontline staff, and technical personnel;
  
• Strengthening the capacities of probation officers, psychologists, and supervisors to identify and respond to signs of radicalisation;
  
• Supporting judicial authorities—judges and prosecutors—in understanding and applying risk assessment information in sentencing and judicial decision-making;
  
• Promoting interinstitutional and cross-sectoral collaboration and knowledge exchange on effective disengagement programmes (EPs) and exit strategies (ESs).
  

Key activities:

• WP1: Project management and coordination, including the organisation of five partner meetings;
  
• WP2: Research phase including a state-of-the-art survey and creation of a database of effective practices and exit strategies;
  
• WP3: Design and piloting of four tailored training programmes for prison staff, probation professionals, judicial professionals, and trainers (Train-the-Trainer – ToT);
  
• WP4: Development and piloting of a cross-cutting training module on the effectiveness of EPs/ESs for all justice professionals;
  
• WP5: Organisation of multi-level actions to promote interprofessional exchange and learning;
  
• WP6: Communication and sustainability actions, including the R4JUST website, certification of training participants, and an international dissemination conference.
  

Target groups and beneficiaries:

• 790 prison staff
  
• 270 probation professionals
  
• 230 judicial professionals (115 judges and 115 prosecutors)
  

Expected results:

• Enhanced knowledge, role awareness, and confidence among trainers and practitioners in identifying and addressing radicalisation risks;
  
• Strengthened operational capacity of prison and probation staff to intervene in early stages of radicalisation;
  
• Improved use of radicalisation risk assessments by judges and prosecutors during sentencing and other judicial decisions;
  
• Increased awareness of the effectiveness of disengagement programmes and exit strategies among all justice professionals;
  
• Long-term sustainability and replicability of training through a Train-the-Trainer model and certification mechanisms.
  

R4JUST contributes to building resilient prison and probation systems, reinforcing judicial cooperation, and embedding a multidisciplinary, rights-based approach to the prevention of radicalisation across Europe.