Drugs and Crime Conference

On March 7 and 8, drug-related criminal policy conference at Tallinn University: “Drugs, crime and punishment – where to draw the line?”

The aim of the conference is to increase the participants’ awareness of the developments and choices in modern drug and penal policy, drug addiction and efficient treatment of drug users in the penal system.

Well-known and acknowledged experts from Estonia and abroad will be speaking at the conference, including scientists, policy-shapers and professionals of the field of activity.

The main target group of the conference is employees of the law enforcement authorities involved in issues related to illegal drug use (the police, prosecuting authority, court, prison, probation supervision), as well as practitioners from the field of healthcare and social care, politicians, researchers and representatives of civil society. Participants from other countries are welcome.

Participation in the conference is free of charge. Please note that places are limited. Registration has now ended.

Simultaneous interpretation from English and Estonian to English, Estonian and Russian languages will be provided at the conference.

The first day of the conference will be focused on drug policy from the wider perspective; on the second day, the focus will be on the treatment of drug users in the law enforcement system.

The conference will be streamed online.

The conference is organised by Estonian Ministry of Justice and financed through the Estonian-Swiss cooperation program (project „Treatment and  rehabilitation of drug addicted offenders“).

Further information: konverents@just.ee

  • Toimumisaeg: 07.03.2016 - 08.03.2016
  • Asukoht: Tallinn University (Narva road 29)
  • Estonian Ministry of Justice

Programme

Moderators: Riina Raudne and Andreas Kaju

Monday, March 7th

8:45-9:30 Registration, coffee

9:30-9:45 Opening of the conference
Urmas Reinsalu, Minister of Justice

9:45-10:30 The history and future of International drug control system
Prof David Bewley-Taylor, Swansea University

10:30-11:15 Evidence-based drug policy and the support of recovery
Prof John Strang, King’s College London

11:15-12:00 Drug-related penal legislation and practice in Europe
Brendan Hughes, European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction

12:00-13:00 Lunch

13:00-13:30 The Swiss four pillar drug policy: prevention, therapy, harm reduction and law enforcement
Jann Schumacher, Ingrado – Services for Addictions

13:30-14:00 The Danish harm reduction model
Esben Houborg, Aarhus University, Centre for Alcohol and Drug Research

14:00-14:30 Portuguese drug policy
Alcina Ló, General Directorate for Intervention on Addictive Behaviours and Dependencies

14:30-15:15 Break

15:15-16.00 What is addiction and why do some people become addicts and some don’t?
Prof Richard Hammersley, University of Hull

16:00-16:45 Drug policy and treatment: The importance of users’ perspective
Prof Sveinung Sandberg, University of Oslo

16:45-17:00 Summary of the day

Tuesday, March 8th

8:30-9:00 Registration, coffee

9:00-9:15 Opening of the second day

9:15-10:00 Harm reduction in penal practice and prisons
Prof Heino Stöver, Frankfurt University of Applied Sciences

10:00-10:40 Working with addicts in a closed facility: Dutch experience
Moniek van Koot and Alexander Douwes Dekker, Tactus

10:40-11:20 Addicts in prison: Swedish experience
Prof Odd Lindberg, Örebro Univesity

11:20-12:00 Addicts in prison: Danish experience
Prof Torsten Kolind, Aarhus Univesity, Centre for Alcohol and Drug Research

12:00-13:00 Lunch

13:00-13:20 Institutions working with drug users in Estonia – video presentation

13:20-14:00 Drug users in Estonian penal system – recent research findings
Gerly Tamm, Tartu University

14:00-14:30 Drugs, crime and punishment – on punishing drug users
Jako Salla, Estonian Ministry of Justice

14:30-14:45 The future of drug policy in Estonia – video presentation
Aljona Kurbatova, National Institute for Health Development
Dr. Andres Lehtmets, Estonian Psychiatric Society
Anna Markina, University of Tartu
Ken-Marti Vaher, Member of Parliament
Leho Laur, Police and Border Guard Board, North prefecture
Siim Tuisk, Citizen lobbyst

14:45-15:00 Summary

15:30-16:00 Break

16:00-17.00 Debate on the future of drug policy in Estonia
Moderator: Indrek Treufeldt
Participants:
Hardo Pajula, Economist
Maris Jesse, National Institute for Health Development
Taavi Pern, Northern District Prosecutor’s Office
Vilja Toomast, Member of Parliament

Getting there

Address: Tallinn University, Narva road 29, Tallinn
Room: Auditorium Maximum (A-002)

How to get there:
*when coming from the city centre or Kadriorg, take either tram number 1 or 3 and get off at the Tallinna Ülikool (Tallinn University) tram stop;
*it is easy to reach the university using bus routes numbered 1, 1A, 5, 8, 19, 29, 29A, 29B, 34A, 35, 38, 44, 51, 60, 63. When coming from the city centre, get off at the Uus-Sadama bus stop, and if you’re coming from Pirita and/or Lasnamäe get off at the F. R. Kreutzwaldi bus stop;
*coming by car you will need to find a parking space in a public Pay-Parking area in the city centre or a Pay-Parking area near the university.

parking