Strengthening the Probation Service in Armenia

Building upon the results achieved from the implementation of the Project “Support the scaling-up of the probation service in Armenia”, the Project “Strengthening the Probation Service in Armenia” financed by Council of Europe Action Plan for Armenia 2023 – 2026 assists national authorities in facilitating the use of probation services in the country, thus enhancing community safety and the fair administration of justice.
It is implemented in close cooperation and partnership with the Ministry of Justice and State Probation Service, as well as other national stakeholders, including civil society organisations active in are of probation.
The Project will focus on accomplishing the following outcomes:

The knowledge and skills of probation officers on probation methods, risks and needs assessment tool and rehabilitation programmes are enhanced thanks to effective and sustainable training centres and regular staff evaluation;
The co-operation among all actors of the criminal justice system on the basis of a shared understanding of new Probation service functions and respective roles and responsibilities is enhanced;
The accessibility by offenders to effective rehabilitation/resocialisation programmes is enhanced;
E-probation system is further updated and supported to become operational.

The key documents for this Project are Recommendation CM/Rec(2010)1 on the Council of Europe Probation Rules, Recommendation CM/Rec(2017)3 on the European Rules on community sanctions and measures, Recommendation CM/Rec(2014)4 on electronic monitoring, Rec. R (2003) 22 concerning conditional release, as well as the findings and the recommendations of the European Committee for the Prevention of Torture (CPT) and the judgments of the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR).
The duration of the Project was set at 24 months, and it was completed on 31 December 2024, with an overall budget of 500 000 Euros.

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Back A workshop on cooperation between Probation service and its partners on resocialisation and e-monitoring of probation beneficiaries

Marina ACHA

Modified 2 Years ago.

@ Council of Europe

On 9-10 June 2023, a multiagency workshop took place in Tsaghkadzor, Armenia on the topic of cooperation between the Probation Service and other stakeholders such as courts, other state institutions, local government bodies, civil society organisations in the field of resocialisation of probation beneficiaries, as well as on application of electronic monitoring.

During the discussions the participants highlighted challenges to resocialisation of probation beneficiaries, such as lack of human and financial resources, involvement of non-governmental organisations in the development and implementation of programmes, importance of inter-agency cooperation and discussed its modalities. The outcomes of discussions will be used to finalise the Council of Europe needs assessment and recommendations on improving the cooperation in the field of resocialisation of probationers.

Issues related to the implementation of the new concept of alternative restraint measures (home arrest and administrative supervision) were also in focus, including potential restriction of the rights of other persons living with the accused, as well as challenges related to the application of electronic monitoring. The findings of these discussion will inform the preparation of future guidelines and training material on new alternative sanctions and restraint measures.

This event is part of the Council of Europe’s support within the framework of the Project “Strengthening the Probation Service in Armenia" to assist national authorities in facilitating the use of probation services in the country, thus enhancing community safety and fair administration of justice. The Project is financed within the framework of the Council of Europe Action Plan for Armenia 2023-2026 and implemented by the Council of Europe.

Tsaghkadzor, Armenia 9-10 June 2023