Creating safer, more effective and rehabilitation-focused prisons benefits victims, communities and wider society, Justice Minister Naomi Long will tell delegates at Belfast's first Correctional Research Symposium.

Hosted by the Northern Ireland Prison Service, the five-day event brings together leading academics, practitioners and policymakers from across Europe and beyond to share research, innovation and evidence on what works in modern correctional services.

Justice Minister Naomi Long said: "Safe, secure and decent custody must always be our starting point. But our ambition must go further than simply containing risk.

"When people in our care are supported to tackle addiction, improve their health, reconnect with their families, gain qualifications and develop skills for employment, we create the conditions for lasting change.

"That means fewer victims, safer communities and better outcomes for society as a whole.

"Reducing offending and reoffending cannot be the responsibility of the justice system alone. Many of the underlying causes lie in issues such as addiction, poor mental health, educational disadvantage, poverty and social exclusion. "That is why the Executive is committed to a more joined-up, cross-government approach that tackles the root causes of offending and supports people to build positive futures."

Highlighting the role of evidence and collaboration in shaping policy and practice, the Minister underlined the value of learning from elsewhere.

She said: "The most effective correctional systems are those that are willing to learn, adapt and innovate.

"Research provides the evidence that helps us understand what works, while collaboration allows us to learn from the experiences of others.

"Northern Ireland has built strong partnerships with counterparts across these islands and internationally, sharing expertise and learning from best practice. Through our work with organisations such as EuroPris and ICPA, we are helping to shape and benefit from a growing international community of practice.

"Progress happens when people come together with openness, curiosity and a shared determination to improve outcomes. This symposium provides exactly that opportunity."

The symposium is the fourth Correctional Research Symposium organised by the International Corrections and Prisons Association (ICPA) and the European Organisation for Prison and Correctional Services (EuroPris), and is being hosted by the Northern Ireland Prison Service. Both organisations say high-quality research should inform how correctional services are designed and delivered, with the event providing a forum to bridge the gap between evidence and practice.