Lenka Ouředníčková has been instrumental in introducing restorative justice practices to the Czech justice system.  She is a co-founder of the Association for Development of Social Work in Criminal Justice (SPJ) – Institute for Probation and Mediation. This non-profit organization was established in 1994 to support new and alternative forms of resolving criminal issues.  

Lenka's work is influenced by the theory of radical constructivism and systemic theory.  She currently works as a trainer in victim-offender mediation and probation.   

Lenka has been involved in several groups working to expand the role of mediation and probation in the Czech Republic.  She participated in the preparation of the Act on Probation and Mediation Service which allowed the formation of the Probation Mediation Service in the Czech Republic (PMS ČR).

Between 1996 and 2000, she was active as a probation officer and leader of methodology development for probation officers in the Prague judicial system.  She is currently an active member in different working groups developing standards of work practice for Probation and Mediation Service in the Czech Republic.

Lenka's recent positions and achievements include

• co-creator of the training system for probation officers and assistants currently being used in the Czech Republic  

• co-author of the Handbook for Probation and Mediation used as reference and training material.  

• active on the PMS ČR exam committee since 2000.  This position was awarded to her by the Minister of Justice of the Czech Republic.    

• a board-member of Conference Permanente Europeene de la Probation

SPJ’s representative at the European Forum for Victim-Offender Mediation and Restorative Justice.

Lenka also has an extensive body of written work in the field of restorative justice.  She has published numerous articles in juridical journals and recently contributed to the Country Report for the 2002 status report for “Alternative Sentences and Probation Services in EU Accession Countries”.

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“We should revise the concept of probation which is traditionally focused on work with offenders. Probation activities, as well as victim-offender mediation should represent a balanced approach of meeting the needs of victims, offenders and society.”

Lenka Ouředníčková 

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Leading Edge.  Lenka is currently working to develop new terminology in the Czech language with regards to restorative justice.  She is working on establishing a body of methodology for probation and mediation in the Czech Republic based on the principles of restorative justice. Her latest project is aimed to raise public awareness and the interest of judges in issues of community sanctions and measures.

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Reach Lenka Ouředníčková  at  institut@spj.cz


Bibiliography