On 3rd July 2014, the Ministry of Finance – Programme Operator of Programme CZ15 approved funding in amount of 8 885 528 CZK to implement a pre-defined project „System of Further Education of Employees of the Probation and Mediation Service“. The project is funded by Norway Grants 2009-2014. The Probation and Mediation Service of the Czech Republic is the beneficiary of grant. The project is implemented in partnership with the Correctional Service Norway.

The main aim of the project is to increase competence of officers and assistants of the Probation and Mediation Service in the area of general skills and particular specializations. For that purpose the system of further education of these employees will be implemented. Through a complex of training courses care will be taken to strengthen the quality of cooperation between criminal proceeding authorities and the Probation and Mediation Service, especially in the area of preparation of conditions for application of alternative sanctions, strengthening the quality in the provision of programmes of restorative justice and enhancing the quality of work with victims of crimes. A hundred of newly trained officers and assistants of the Probation and Mediation Service shall be the result of the project. The trainees will be provided by study materials and methodologies and will be supervised by lectors of specialized training courses.

Within the cooperation with the Correctional Service Norway study visits will be made in the order to exchange experience in specific areas, such as mediation practice, electronic monitoring of prisoners, work with victims of crimes or experience with half way houses.

Due to the acquisition of new knowledge and skills of officers of the Probation and Mediation Service the project will help to improve and make the Czech justice more effective and at the same time the project will help to strengthen bilateral relations between the Czech Republic and the Kingdom of Norway.