ABSTRACT

The current mission of the Prison Department under the Ministry of Justice of the Republic of Lithuania is to ensure operation of a system that is based on just and progressive serving of awarded sentences and execution of punishment following humanistic principles. Two main strategic goals have been developed in order to carry out this mission: (1) to ensure the execution of arrests, sentences, and probation as well as substance abuse prevention in places of confinement; (2) to create sentence serving conditions that encourage inmates’ good behaviour during the term of imprisonment and discourage re-offending following the release. Based on the Prison Department’s structure, three main directions of activities may be distinguished. This chapter examines the prison system in Lithuania from the perspective of Živilė Mikėnaitė, Director General.