Working Group on Prison and Probation Services

The federal programme “Live Democracy!”

For many years, the Federal Ministry for Education, Family Affairs, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth has been supporting democracy and prevention work in Germany through the federal programme “Live Democracy!”. The programme’s core objectives are: promoting democracy, shaping diversity, and preventing extremism. A wide range of initiatives, associations, and dedicated individuals who advocate for a diverse and democratic society receive funding through this programme.

The “Live Democracy!” federal programme also supports projects focused on prevention and deradicalisation within the prison system and probation services. In addition, each federal state provides further funding for civil society organisations through state-level programmes. In cooperation with the state ministries of justice, selected organisations are specifically deployed in the prison system to implement prevention measures in the areas of right-wing extremism, Islamism, or cross-phenomenon extremism. These include:

For inmates and probationers:

• Counseling for disengagement and support for exiting extremist environments
• Civic education workshops
• Anti-violence and social skills training
• Creative projects
• Counseling for relatives and the social environment

For professionals:

• Training programmes
• Qualification of aspirants
• (Case-related) counseling and coaching
• Organisational counseling

New forms of cooperation between civil society, state ministries of justice, and correctional institutions are also being explored. Ensuring access to previously underrepresented target groups—such as women, family members, probationers, and additional professional groups within the justice system — is a new key focus.

The Working Group on Prison and Probation Services (AG Strafvollzug und Bewährungshilfe)

The Working Group on Prison and Probation Services (AG Strafvollzug und Bewährungshilfe) is a nationwide network comprising around 30 civil society organisations committed to preventing extremism and promoting democracy within the prison system and offender support services. Since 2017, this network has received financial support from the “Live Democracy!” federal programme.

Our Activities

Meetings for members

• Held twice a year over two days in Berlin
• Exchange on current challenges and joint planning of public activities
• Expert input provided by external speakers, based on internal trend analyses

Online-Trainings

• Six training sessions per year (each 2.5 hours)
• For members and staff from regular institutions
• Focus on knowledge transfer, qualification, and networking

Updates & Newsletters

• Regular e-mail updates for members
• Professional newsletter for externals

Advocacy Work

• Coordination office acts as a central contact and referral point
• Ongoing dialogue with the Federal Ministry for Education, Family Affairs, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth and other relevant stakeholders
• Participation in professional events and networking forums

Publications

• Authentic insights into educational practices in prisons and probation services

Quality Criteria & Standards

• Ongoing development of shared quality standards in the field

E-learning

• Course for new professionals in the field

National Expert Conference 2026

• Nationwide hybrid conference
• Goal: To improve the visibility of the diversity of approaches and participating civil society organisations

Contact

Working Group on Prison and Probation Services
c/o Violence Prevention Network gGmbH
Alt-Reinickendorf 25
D-13407 Berlin – Germany

Point of contact:
Franziska Kreller & Dörthe Engels
phone: +49 (0)30 91 70 54 64
e-mail: hallo@ag-strafvollzug-und-bewaehrungshilfe.de