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 Workshop on the results of piloting the draft Risks and Needs Assessment tool for prisoners and offenders in the community

The results of the piloting the draft Risks and Needs Assessment (RNA) tool for prisoners and offenders in the community were presented during a final evaluation workshop.

All probation offices and prisons who tested the draft RNA tool in their daily work during a six-months period expressed their satisfaction with the tool and stated that they gained more confidence and skills in evaluating the needs and potential risks of offenders. Participants exchanged best practices on the use of the tool, their views on its applicability at all stages of the sentence execution, as well as discussed common challenges faced during the implementation of the pilot, and solutions for an enhanced cooperation and exchange of information between prisons and probation services.

The pilot initiative was launched by the Council of Europe in July 2021, in four prisons and twelve Probation Offices, with the aim of collecting data to make informed decisions about the applicability of the tool and evidence-based recommendations for a more uniform approach to the offenders’ risk and needs assessment. It aimed also and joining the work of both National Administration of Penitentiaries (NAP) and the National Probation Inspectorate (NPI) in relation to the rehabilitation and reintegration efforts. Further approval of the tool and its application at organisational level by both institutions should lead to a better risk management in both institutions and the individualization of approach to each prisoner and offender. This will facilitate more accurate and responsive decision making towards offenders’ rehabilitation and reintegration interventions.

The activity was attended by the management of the NAP and NPI, staff of prisons and probation officers who participated in piloting of the RNA tool.

The activity was organised online on 15-16 February 2022 within 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.

Republic of Moldova 28.02.2022