The Kosovo Correctional Service began work on November 28, 1999, initially with the opening of the first Detention Center in Prizren to continue with the opening of other correctional centers in the largest centers of the country.

The KCS has inherited a state of dysfunctional infrastructure, but with work, dedication and support the system of execution of sentences and detention has been fully operational, with significant improvements in both infrastructure and work quality improvement.

In April 2000, the first generation of 60 correctional officers was recruited and trained, who successfully completed the training and then began work at the Prizren Detention Center. Since that time, the Kosovo Correctional Service has 1386 uniformed staff and 283 civilian, professional and support staff trained and dedicated to fulfill the KCS mission.

The new correctional service was created on the basis of a democratic and professional service. It is an open and equal service for all those who wish to become members of this service.

All members of the Kosovo Correctional Service are committed to their service, based on: Vision, Mission and Values ​​of this Service.

Since its establishment, the Kosovo Correctional Service has been part of the overall development of circumstances in post-war Kosovo which has gone through various challenges and difficulties throughout the transition phase up to the post-independence phase. However, we have made significant progress in fulfilling the mission, initially with the help of donors and the work of all staff, at all levels the most basic conditions were created, and by 2001, the year that marked the beginning of operation in the entire territory of the Republic of Kosovo, the Correctional Service now operates and administers institutions such as:

– Dubrava Correctional Center;

– Smrekonicë Correctional Center;

– Lipjan Correctional Center;

– Lipjan Correctional-Educational Center;

– Lipjan Detention Center;

– Prizren Detention Center;

– Pristina Detention Center;

– Gjilan Detention Center;

– Peja Detention Center;

– Mitrovica Detention Center;

– High Security Prison.

Given the opportunities and jobs that have been developed at high intensity, today, the Kosovo Correctional Service has made an important step by becoming a member of the International Corrections and Prisons Association, ICPA.

Mission and Vision

The mission of the Kosovo Correctional Service is to work with all partners of Justice and in constant conformity with the laws of Kosovo towards the correction and re-socialization of prisoners by respecting their fundamental rights regardless of race, language and religion as well as providing a safe environment for staff, prisoners, and society.

The vision of the KCS is to develop an advanced Correctional Service that will operate in accordance with the most advanced international law, norms and standards.

Mandate

According to the Law on Execution of Criminal Sanctions (LESP), the KCS is responsible for organizing supervision and enforcement of Criminal Sanctions. Its activity is re-socialization of convicted persons while serving their sentence and their reintegration into society thus performing an important task in protecting the Republic of Kosovo from recurrence of criminal offenses and the prevention of future criminality.

The main tasks of KCS are:

• Organizing, implementing and supervising the execution of imprisonment sentences and

long term imprisonment;

• Organizing, implementing and supervising imprisonment and educational/corrective measures for Minors;

• Organizing programs that contribute to re-education, release preparation and

long-term supervision of sentenced persons.

• Implementation of detention on remand for detainees held in KCS institutions.

Equality:

The Correctional Service is committed to promoting equality in all areas of work and acting as well as committing to a healthy society with an emancipation always on the rise respecting gender equality, nationality, right of opinion and faith, social status, etc. The prohibition of any form of discrimination is one of the key priorities of the KCS and part of the broader equality agenda, which is essential to the safe and successful management of KCS. In order to reach the desired level of equality the only right way is when we make sure everyone is treated with dignity, fairness, impartiality and equality, regardless of color, sex, race, creed, political conviction, social status, psycho-physical abilities, etc.

Values

1. The Republic of Kosovo has embraced the general principles of fundamental human rights and freedoms and has guaranteed these rights by its Constitution. Hence it has advanced in terms of imposing and enforcing criminal sanctions towards the humanity of punishment in order to eradicate the vengeful character by guaranteeing the right of human to life.

2. The fundamental rights and freedoms guaranteed by the Constitution of the Republic Kosovo can be limited only to the extent necessary, in an open and democratic society, namely fulfilling the purpose for which restriction is allowed is.

3. Cooperation with other partners that have an impact on the KCS.

4. KCS is committed to promoting equality, respect for cultural, ethnic, religious, gender diversity in all spheres of work and activity.

5. Potential of human resources based on; honesty, transparency, responsibility, accountability and professional ethics.

Legal basis

The Legal Basis of KCS relies on the applicable Laws in Kosovo adopted by

The Assembly of the Republic, which are:

• Kosovo Law on Execution of Criminal Sanctions (LESP), Prishtina, 2013;

• Criminal Code of Kosovo, Prishtina;

• Kosovo Criminal Procedure Code, Prishtina;

• Kosovo Juvenile Justice Code, Prishtina, 2010.

Professionalism:

Staff and managers interact professionally with prisoners, working together, helping others, and building external and internal relationships.

Being a worker who chooses professional values, it continues to believe in inspirational progressive values, encourages workers to take pride in their work, the values ​​and contribution they make.

It enables and ensures that individuals take personal responsibility for their actions.

The professionalism of KCS staff is evaluated at different times in order to determine their professional level.

Goals and Objectives:

Being aware of our specific and major tasks, our goals are also linked to the development of society at large, and we believe that our past and future roles and goals will be fundamental to a society dominated by law and respect for freedoms and the rights of all. Our strategic goals will be:

1. Ensuring effective management and supervision of prisoners. Changing the conditions for managing and enforcing regulations in accordance with the rights of prisoners, developing practices that will be best adapted;

2. In its contribution to reducing Recidivism, KCS aims to reduce the level of recidivism by providing programs for successful rehabilitation and reintegration of prisoners;

3. Increasing skills and capacities

For successful work the KCS needs to build operational capabilities and capacities (technology and infrastructure);

4. Continuous adoption of internal regulations that help to make the general provisions of the Law on Execution of Criminal Sanctions concrete in order to ensure the respect for the rights of prisoners;

5. Creating conditions for mandatory primary and vocational education for prisoners, and providing adequate programs for various vocational training;

6. Cooperation with Governmental and Non-Governmental Organizations in the interest of service in general, and prisoners in particular.

Economic Unit of Kosovo Correctional Service

The Kosovo Correctional Service conducts its economic activity in four correctional centers: in Dubrava, Smrekonicë, Lipjan and the High Security Prison.

Production of toilet paper and kitchenware has begun at the High Security Prison. The products produced by HSP prisoners will be used for the needs of all correctional facilities, and will be marketed locally in the future.

Dubrava Correctional Center, according to geo – cadastral records has 140 hectares of land. Of these, 24 hectares are surrounded by walls, while 116 hectares are arable land in which their activities develop the branches such as:

Vegetable branch;

Open field branch;

Agricultural workshop branch;

Livestock Branch;

Environmental Maintenance Branch.

Education of prisoners

Correctional institutions provide education for all inmates, and the teaching process is organized for pre-university education levels. Education is developed for educational profiles approved by the MEST, and inmate education is equivalent to general education in the Republic of Kosovo.

Professional training of convicts

The Correctional Service operates vocational training centers for inmates, which have ample room for training and production. The training staff is certified by the MLSW Vocational Training Center. After the completion of each training, the prisoners were also certified.

Currently, correctional institutions are developing professional training in the following areas:

– Information Technology (Word-Excel);

– Water and sanitation installation;

– Welding;

– Welding;

– Carpentry;

– Construction (Ceramics, Façade, Rebar worker, Bricklayer, Carpenter, etc.)

Employment of inmates outside the correctional facility

From this year the Correctional Service started allowing the responsible inmates access to employment outside the correctional facility. Prisoners of various professional profiles have begun to be employed in various private businesses according to the interest of companies in agreement with the KCS.

The work of prisoners is a necessary activity towards the successful re-socialization and their preparation to return to society as responsible and useful individuals for society and at the same time for the Correctional Service. The KCS is accomplishing its legal mission of preventing future crime recurrence by targeting a rule of law society.

We expect the wider society to accept prisoners employed in community as part of their lives and work in its environment and to assist the KCS in its mission of re-socializing and reintegrating inmates into society in the Republic of Kosovo.