On Tuesday, 3 May, Latvia’s Minister of Justice Jānis Bordāns transferred Dmitrijs Kaļins from the post of chief of Olaine Prison to the position of head of Latvia’s Prison Administration (IeVP). The Cabinet of Ministers approved his candidacy as well.
According to Bordāns, he expects the new head of IeVP to continue the development of the prison system, improvement of the re-socialization process and implementation innovative reforms.
At the meeting of the government, the minister admitted that after holding discussions with the candidate picked by the selection committee he acquired confidence that Kaļins will ensure development and accomplish in practice objectives of the penalty enforcement system in line with European values.
Kaļins said that he plans to focus on developing the prison system and introducing modern work methods, as well as raising qualifications of his new subordinates and providing them support on the path towards new accomplishments in order to ensure successful and professional completion of goals set for IeVP.
Previously Kaļins worked as chief of Olaine Prison. Between 2015 and 2016 he served as construction coordinator in a project headed by the Norwegian Financial Instrument. He also organized construction processes at Olaine Prison.
In 2019 Kaļins coordinated a project by the Norwegian Financial Instrument to create a new training centre within Olaine Prison’s territory.
Since 2020 Kaļins has been a representative of Latvian Prison Administration in EuroPris organisation’s work group.
He graduated from Latvia University of Life Sciences and Technologies with a vocational higher education diploma and senior work safety specialist qualification. He also holds a Bachelor’s degree in engineering.
The personnel selection committee consisted of the director of Latvia’s State Chancellery Jānis Citskovskis, the head of the office of the Minister of Justice Aldis Bukšs, state secretary to the Ministry of Justice Raivis Kronbergs, deputy chief of the State Security Service Andris Rapiņš, parliamentary secretary to the Ministry of Justice Ilona Kronberga, directors of the Department of Affairs of the State Sanita Armagana and the directors of Personnel Management Department of the Ministry of Justice Airisa Auzāne.