Justice Ministry proposes making 8 July Penitentiary System Employees' Day

Latvia's Ministry of Justice (TM) is proposing to add a new date to the national calendar of holidays and commemorative days: 8 July as Penitentiary System Employees' Day. The ministry has submitted amendments to the law "On Holidays, Remembrance Days and Commemorative Days" to the government, so that the Prison Administration (IeVP), which oversees the country's prisons and other detention facilities, could mark its professional holiday at the state level.

The bill aims to give official recognition to the contribution of IeVP staff to carrying out pre-trial detention and custodial sentences, to the resocialisation of prisoners and to public safety.

The date is already observed

The IeVP currently celebrates its professional holiday on 8 July, honouring and rewarding employees for achievements in their service and work. However, the day is not defined in law as an officially observed day.

The ministry links the date to 8 July 1919, when the Main Prison Board was established by a ministry decision. Ervīns Kubis was appointed its inspector, and the institution then operated in Riga Castle.

Nature and scale of the work

The ministry stresses that the work of prison staff is complex and specific, as it involves working with inmates, their behavioural risks and their resocialisation needs. Latvia currently has eight places of detention holding about 3,600 prisoners. The IeVP employs 1,595 officials with special service ranks, 19 general civil service officials and 321 other employees.

Other services

The ministry notes that commemorative days have already been set for staff of other services: Firefighters and Rescuers' Day on 17 May, Border Guard Day on 7 November and Police Officers' Day on 5 December.

In the ministry's view, establishing the new day would show respect for IeVP employees, raise the prestige of the profession, boost staff motivation and strengthen understanding of the national significance of their duties.