The Working Group was founded in 2017 with the start of promotional column J „Model projects for prevention and deradicalisation in the penal system and probation services“ within the framework of the federal programme Live Democracy! (Federal Ministry for Family Affairs, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth). In close coordination with the respective State Ministries of Justice and the State Democracy Centres, the projects in this programme area aim to create preventive-pedagogical offers for imprisoned juvenile offenders and to support them during and after their imprisonment. Furthermore, approaches of exit and distancing work for already ideologically radicalised prisoners are promoted. The programme area is designed to cover both phenomena and also provides funding for projects to qualify and train prison staff to deal with radicalised people and those at risk of radicalisation.
Violence Prevention Network coordinates the „Working Group on Prison and Probation Services“.