The Council of Europe continues to provide its very much needed technical assistance to the Greek penitentiary authorities by supporting thematic activities in 2024. In continuation of a past project (2019-2021) and ad hoc activities in 2022-2023, the Cooperation in Police and Deprivation of Liberty Division (CPDL) shares its expertise with the Ministry of Justice on the appropriate and effective application of community measures in Greece, in an effort to create a less punitive and more rehabilitative penitentiary policy.

Electronic monitoring of offenders remains marginal in Greece, and to modernize the overall penitentiary system, CPDL supported the General Secretariat for Crime Police, Ministry of Citizen Protection in improving the regulatory and operational framework of electronic monitoring in the country.

To this end, a meeting was organized on 4 March 2024 with Council of Europe consultants and the Greek authorities under the auspices of the General Secretariat for Crime Police, Ministry of Citizen Protection, Greece. Council of Europe best practices and relevant legislation/regulations of certain Council of Europe member states were presented in support of the wider application of community/alternative sanctions and measures. The use of alternative measures can help improve detention conditions and address overcrowding.

CPDL will follow up the application of electronic monitoring with additional support both at practical and legislative levels in order to help implement the latest amendments introduced in the Criminal and Criminal Procedural Codes of Greece.