The EU and Council of Europe are assisting the Albanian prison service to set up a structured and standardised practice to support prisoners with mental health disorders upon admission, in line with the recommendations of the European Committee for Prevention of Torture .  

To introduce this practice in more prisons in Albania, 25 representatives from 3 prisons and 2 pre-detention facilities, gathered on 18-19 February 2026 to build their skills in working with this type of inmates. The event served to share best practices from Durres piloting, testing initial screening methodology in a safe environment, and planning the roll out in Fushë Kruja, Peqin, Jordan Misja and Mine Peza facilities.

In 2023 the Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for the multidisciplinary treatment of prisoners with mental health disorders was successfully piloted in Durrës and Fier prisons. Both prisons report that the Initial Screening methodology as part of the SOPs, has proven beneficial. It has become standard practice and continues to be applied  successfully by the general practitioners in both prisons.

At the end of the activity, participants drafted an action-plan for each of the prisons and pre-detention facilities where the initial screening methodology will be piloted. A common agreement was reached with prison authorities aiming the roll out of the piloting to be implemented in April-June 2026, with at least 40 prisoners being screened when they arrive upon admission. The application of the initial screening methodology for mental health disorders in prison is expected to improve early detection of mental health disorders and quicker referral to psychiatrists. This would lead to a more effective treatment for new prisoners and pre-trial detainees, in line with Council of Europe recommendations

This event was conducted in the framework of the action on “Enhancing the protection of Human Rights of prisoners in Albania” part of the joint European Union and Council of Europe programme ”Horizontal Facility for the Western Balkans and Türkiye”.