A laboratory at the University of Beira Interior .pt BSAFE LAB Concept
Founded as a result of the collaboration between QUALIFY JUST (IPS_Innovative Prison Systems) and UBI – Universidade da Beira Interior, the BSAFE LAB is an open interdisciplinary research and technology transfer laboratory aiming to foster and develop new research and technology transfer in the fields of law enforcement, j
ustice and public safety in scientific areas ranging from arts & humanities, including law, history and philosophy, biological & medical sciences, physical sciences & engineering, social & behavioural sciences & education. Its main objectives consist of fostering the advancement of scientific knowledge, the effectiveness of public and civil society agencies and the reinforcement of SME competitiveness in the fields of law enforcement, justice and public safety through:
• the development of new research projects (involving public organisations, private sector and government agencies);
• the technical supervision of master’s and PhD thesis;
• the implementation of innovation demonstration actions (technology transfer pilots and experimentation playgrounds) involving SME’s and public sector agencies;
• the establishment of partnerships with research and government institutions worldwide;
• providing technical assistance to third parties (companies and government agencies).
2. Research and technology transfer
BSAFE LAB coordinates fundamental and applied research projects in the fields of law enforcement, justice and public safety. Our research teams are composed by renowned researchers belonging to different international research organizations, private sector and public agency representatives.
3. Organization
BSAFE LAB is a research and technology transfer laboratory within the University of Beira Interior (UBI). While being financially accountable within the University and being fully aligned with UBI’s strategic plans, BSAFE LAB has scientific independence and functions according to its specific rules and triennial strategic plan, approved by its members. Governance bodies consist of:
• Executive board (and Strategic advisory board)
• Scientific Commission
• Scientific board
4. BSAFE LAB research domains
● Penitentiary, prisons and probation
● prison planning, architecture and engineering
● prison management
● education and reinsertion of minors and juveniles
● risk assessment of offenders and ex-offenders
● reinsertion of inmates
● community sentences
● relation between inmates, family and community
● impact of prison in offenders family and children
● prison work/prison industries
● relation with employers
● mental illness in prisons
● health in prison
● suicide prevention
● ICT for prisons and probation
(digital communication, sensors, robotics, drones, internet of things, cloud computing, learning technologies, e-health, wearable and mobile devices, gamification, non-cooperative biometric recognition…)
● Electronic monitoring
● e-health in prisons
● learning technologies for inmates and staff training
● public-private partnerships in justice
● other relevant areas. To be extended to other areas of law enforcement, justice and public safety. Contact: [email protected]
