(Sarajevo, 22 January 2021)The reconstruction and change of purpose of the Miljacka Prison will address the long-standing occupant cappacity issue of the Cantonal Court in Sarajevo and the Municipal Court in Sarajevo, and additional premises for the judicial police will be provided, which will create better working conditions for both courts and judicial police 

During this year, the preparation of project documentation for the renovation and change of purpose of the building will begin, which is a prerequisite for the works to start. The project documentation will envisage the future layout and purpose of the premises, followed by all other necessary preparations for the process of renovation of the building.

The project documentation will be prepared under the project Improving Judicial Quality, in the part related to the modernisation and reconstruction of judicial buildings, which is implemented by the Secretariat of the High Judicial and Prosecutorial Council of Bosnia and Herzegovina (HJPC BiH) with the Government of Norway financial support, while the works are planned to be funded by the Delegation of the EU to BiH through the pre-accession assistance programme - IPA.

The new occupant capacity will mean better working conditions, which will directly affect the faster resolution of cases, reduction of the backlog of cases and greater availability and quality of work of these institutions.

In order to ensure the provision of adequate space for the work of these two judicial institutions, it was first necessary to provide new space for all prison facilities located in this building, and then proceed with all preparatory work to develop project documentation.

Ensuring enough space for the work of judicial institutions is one of the basic conditions in ensuring the functionality and efficiency of the justice system, which is why the HJPC BiH, with the support of the Government of Norway, has been working intensively for years to improve the working conditions of judicial institutions throughout BiH by providing funds for their renovation and equipping. The results of this cooperation are renovated and constructed judicial buildings in Istočno Sarajevo, Modriča, Prijedor, Mostar, Olovo, Čapljina, Novi Travnik, Zvornik and Kakanj.

By creating adequate working conditions, a significant step forward is being made in creating an environment in which judicial institutions will provide better quality and faster services to citizens, i.e. users of court services. On the other hand, this will overcome a long-standing security challenge, given that the building that currently houses the prison is located in the very centre of the city. Conditions will also be created for the accommodation of detainees and prisoners, which are in accordance with all prescribed standards.

The initiative for the renovation of the Miljacka Prison building, which will be used by the courts and the judicial police, has been initiated by the Secretariat of the HJPC BiH with the support of the Government of Norway which is a long-standing partner of BiH judiciary, and the whole process has been supported by the FBiH Ministry of Justice which in parallel has been carrying out activities on the preparation of project documentation for the construction of a prison complex on Igman mountain, to which Miljacka Prison will be relocated.

Representatives of the HJPC BiH also held a coordination meeting with representatives of the Delegation of the EU to BiH, the Cantonal Court in Sarajevo, the Municipal Court in Sarajevo, the Judicial Police and the FBiH Ministry of Justice, where the organisation and allocation of space that would house the Cantonal Court in Sarajevo, the Municipal Court in Sarajevo and the Judicial Police was presented.