Representatives of the Republic of Moldova participated in a trilateral study visit on prison-based Therapeutic Communities hosted by Bucharest - Jilava Penitentiary, Romania, on 29-30 September 2026. The activity brought together penitentiary professionals from Romania, Georgia and the Republic of Moldova to exchange experience and good practices in the field of rehabilitation, addiction treatment and social reintegration of persons deprived of liberty.
The Moldovan delegation included representatives of Penitentiary No. 9 – Pruncul, alongside specialists responsible for therapeutic services, social reintegration, social work, human resources, security and institutional management.
During the programme, participants visited the Therapeutic Community operating within Bucharest-Jilava Penitentiary, discussed therapeutic and rehabilitation approaches with prison management and specialized staff, and exchanged experiences on addiction treatment, recovery-oriented interventions and social reintegration programmes. Attention was paid to the operation of prison-based Therapeutic Communities and the application of the “Community as Method” approach.
The agenda also included discussions on educational programmes, work activities, animal-assisted therapy and social reintegration services implemented within the Romanian penitentiary system. These exchanges enabled participants to examine practical tools supporting rehabilitation and reducing reoffending risks among people in detention.
A key highlight of the visit was the signing of a Declaration of Cooperation between Penitentiary No. 9 – Pruncul and Bucharest-Jilava Penitentiary, formalizing and strengthening the partnership between the two institutions. The declaration establishes a framework for future joint initiatives, professional exchanges and cooperation in the development of rehabilitation and social reintegration programmes for persons deprived of liberty with a history of psychoactive substance use.
As highlighted by the Acting Director Vladislav Bușmachiu of Penitentiary No. 9 – Pruncul,
“The partnership between Penitentiary No. 9 – Pruncul and Bucharest - Jilava Penitentiary represents a new step in the development of direct cooperation between penitentiary institutions from the Republic of Moldova and Romania, transforming the exchange of experience into common initiatives and actions.”
The experience gained will support the further development of therapeutic services and evidence-based rehabilitation interventions in the participating countries.