European Association of education in prison in 1991 in the city of the Netherlands was established. Founded this forum 2 years after, about the idea of the International Conference on "education in prison" in Oxford (1989) raised. happened. This idea proposes the establishment of organizational goals, the recent report of the Council of Europe regarding education in prisons.

The Association of approximately 1000 members in 43 European countries, and one of the members of the Liaison Committee of non-governmental organizations of the Council of Europe (INGO). European Association of education in the prison, while holding a conference Biennale (2005, in Sofia) is a magazine for members released makes.

EPEA enterprise is comprised of coaches, managers, etc. government officials, etc., researchers and others, who are all interested in promoting and developing categories, training, and other activities related to it in prisons throughout Europe in accordance with the views of the Council of Europe.

this forum by the Council of Europe as an NGO (NGO) to be known. This forum is obliged to cooperate with the administrations of the prisons in Europe, in order to achieve the goals. but at the same time is situational, and is quite independent.