Minister supports prison service reform but stresses it cannot be forced

Lithuania’s Justice Minister Rita Tamašunienė has backed reforms within the country’s Prison Service but warned that changes must not be imposed on staff, national broadcaster LRT reports.

Speaking at a press conference, Tamašunienė confirmed the government supports strengthening resocialisation as a key part of the penal system. However, she emphasised that reports of forced transfers of officers from the Security Management Division to the Resocialisation Department in Kaunas Prison were unacceptable.

“Reform is necessary, and we absolutely agree that resocialisation is a crucial part of the penal process. But we have received information that this reform is being implemented by force, and we cannot support that in any way,” the minister said.

She highlighted a shortage of over 20% of staff in the Prison Service, stating that officers cannot be moved to new roles without their consent. Her comments follow a statement by the Lithuanian Law Enforcement Officers’ Federation (LTPF) that officers in the Security Management Division had received warnings about the elimination of their positions, with dismissal threatened if they refused roles in resocialisation.

Prison Service Director M. Kairys previously told BNS that staff numbers in Kaunas Prison were increasing and that the Resocialisation Department was not being expanded at the expense of the Security Division. He added that employees and unions had been informed in advance about the changes, with alternative positions offered to affected staff. Those who refused would receive formal warnings before further job offers, in line with legal procedures.

Tamašunienė expressed concern that the approach taken in Kaunas could be applied to other prisons. Kairys had earlier stated that the adjustments would improve security in Kaunas Prison.