16 representatives of the Ministry of Justice (MoJ), the National Administration of Penitentiaries (NAP) and the National Probation Inspectorate (NPI) of the Republic of Moldova learned best practices from their peers from the Czech Prison and Probation and Mediation Services during a study visit on 13-16 November 2023.

The participants familiarised themselves with the organization and innovative elements of Probation Service activity (Mediation, Service and Programme Centres, Parole / Probation House), the education and professional development of probation counsellors, as well as the existing resocialization programmes for probation subjects. The new risk and needs assessment system “SARPO” and the way it is integrated digitally was of special interest to the Moldovan delegation.

During the field visits to 2 prisons the participants learned about the structure and overall activity of the Czech prison system, the prison regimes and security levels, the provision and organization of healthcare, as well as about work and education opportunities and treatment programmes available to inmates.

The study visit was organized jointly for representatives of the Moldovan prison and probation systems as an opportunity to improve cooperation between them and thus help to smooth the transition of conditionally released prisoners from detention into probation supervision.

The activity was organised under the auspices of the Project “Strengthening the prison and probation reforms, provision of health care and the treatment of patients in closed institutions in the Republic of Moldova”, financed through the Council of Europe Action Plan for the Republic of Moldova (2021-2024) and implemented by the Council of Europe.