The first monitoring visit to assess the progress at regional level of the risk and needs assessment (RNA) tool was made to the Tavush regional unit of the Probation Service on 8 September 2021. The aim of the visit was to assess the progress in implementing of the revised RNA tool. It was conducted in the format of on-the-job training and helped the probation staff to better understand the revised RNA tool, to raise and discuss questions on the issues/criteria they have encountered with when applying the tool in practice. In the course of the visit, the probation staff of the regional union received additional information on the methodology, timing and technical modalities relevant for the piloting stage of the RNA tool.

A proper use of the RNA tool should assist the probation officers to assess risk and needs of the individual probation beneficiaries, to evaluate the probability of reoffending, to plan supervision, as well as to assist with effective rehabilitation.

The piloting of the tool has started in July 2021 based on the Order of the Minister of Justice and should last until November 2021. Periodical monitoring will allow fine tuning of the tool and its better application in practice once the piloting phase was over.

The first monitoring visit was organised within the framework of the project “Support the scaling-up of the probation service in Armenia” implemented by the Council of Europe and financed by the Action Plan for Armenia 2019-2022.