A Custodial Journey in Prison

The user-centred information guide “Time in Prison: My Steps Towards Release” supports people in custody in adapting to prison life and navigating their rehabilitation journey. The Institute of Baltic Studies, in cooperation with the Ministry of Justice, the State Shared Service Centre, and experts from the University of Tartu and TalTech, developed an innovative information resource aimed at making information about prison life easier for people in custody to understand and apply. 

The guide is based on user-centred design principles, including legal design methodology, and covers the full course of a custodial sentence from arrival and immediate needs to communication, work, learning, and preparation for release. It supports people in custody in actively planning their sentence and setting goals. Infographics and plain language make the content accessible to a diverse prison audience, including non-Estonian-speaking people in custody. 

The guide was prepared in collaboration with prison staff, people in custody, IBS analysts, and experts in service design and criminology. The development process was grounded in the understanding that people in custody are service users whose experiences and insights help shape content that is practical and usable.  

The information guide is now available both digitally and in print in all Estonian prisons.