Promoting a human rights compliant criminal justice system in the Republic of Moldova

The Programme ”Promoting a human rights compliant criminal justice system in the Republic of Moldova” is in line with the strategic priorities for cooperation as formulated in the Council of Europe Action Plan for the Republic of Moldova for 2017-2020, and is funded by the Norwegian government.

It is aimed to ensure a higher respect for human rights and the rule of law by assisting the national authorities in building up an efficiently functioning criminal justice system, in line with European human rights standards, and based on the principles of humanisation, resocialisation and restorative justice.

Main intervention areas will cover policy/legal framework, institutional and practical implementation levels, with the focus on:

Consolidation of criminal justice policy, legislation and judiciary practice in line with international standards with respect to the liberalization of criminal proceedings, including strengthening the application of non-custodial pre-trial preventive measures and sanctions, alternative sanctions in criminal cases, improvement of probation services and release on parole mechanisms
Better treatment and resocialisation of inmates by improving the regulatory and policy framework as well as prison staff capacities relevant to regime arrangements and management of prisons, implementation of treatment programmes and provision of health care services for inmates;
Support towards the development of the capacities of criminal justice stakeholders in the light of the implementation of the on-going reforms, including judiciary, prosecution service, as well as Ombudsperson’s institution and National Prevention Mechanism (NPM).

The Programme is expected to be implemented in 36 months (as of 1 March 2018).

Useful information

PROJECT NEWS

Back Consultation meeting on the progress in piloting the Risks and Needs Assessment Tool in selected prisons and probation offices

The first consultation meeting on the progress in piloting the Risks and Needs Assessment (RNA) Tool for prisoners and offenders ARIC (Assessment of Reintegration, Intervention and Conclusion) in 4 selected prisons and 4 probation offices was conducted online on 04-05 October 2021.

The activity represents the follow-up of the induction training of prison and probation staff on the use of the tool and its piloting in selected prisons and probation offices, implemented during July - September 2021.

This meeting allowed prison and probation staff to provide comprehensive feedback on the completed questionnaires of the RNA Tool. The purpose of the RNA tool is to ensure a smooth transition of prisoners released from prison to probation supervision. The respondents assessed the tool as a helpful instrument in evaluating the risks related to probation subjects and inmates. One of the most significant results is the fact that the prison and the probation offices have already started using the RNA tool in their daily work. It is also worth mentioning that both prison and probation staff consider that the tool completes their skills and techniques previously conveyed by the Council of Europe (e.g. motivational interviewing), which is a good indicator of synergy built between different activities.

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).

Moldova 7 October 2021