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Armenia advances evidence-based conditional release through a new pre-release reporting framework

On 10 December, the final Working Group meeting for 2025 with representatives of the Probation Service, the Penitentiary Service and the Ministry of Justice was held. The aim of the meeting was to present and discuss a new draft template and guidelines for pre-release reports. The new evidence-based pre-release report framework is an essential tool designed to endorse conditional-release decisions. The initiative marks a significant improvement in reinforcing rehabilitation-focused justice and supporting a safer reintegration of individuals returning to the community.

The development of the new template and guidelines followed a comprehensive needs assessment carried out between July and September 2025 by the Council of Europe. During the assessment of the existing old templates and practice the major needs and gaps were identified.

As a result, the assessment was translated into action based on the European best practices, and fully revised pre-release report template and practical guidelines were developed. A clearer, more comprehensive, and standardised approach was adopted. The new template covers key areas including behaviour during imprisonment, criminogenic factors, dynamic and static risk indicators, protective factors, victim-related considerations, reintegration prospects, and an overall assessment of suitability for conditional release. It also streamlines reporting procedures and strengthens cooperation between probation and penitentiary services.

Participants welcomed the improvements and highlighted the enhanced clarity and consistency the framework brings to their work. They also noted the value of the newly developed guidelines, describing them as a highly refined and practical document that will support more consistent professional practice. One of the participants noted: “This updated template gives us a far more reasoned and judgment-based tool. It not only helps us structure our assessments in a transparent and professional way, but together with the new guidelines, it provides courts with clearer and more reliable information for making conditional early-release decisions. We sincerely appreciate the Council of Europe’s support in helping us advance our practice.”

As a result of this productive discussion the participants agreed on piloting and institutional adoption of the template.

The activity was organised under the auspice of the Council of Europe Project “Further Strengthening the Probation Service in Armenia” financed and implemented through the Council of Europe Action Plan Armenia (2023 – 2026).

YEREVAN, ARMENIA 10 DECEMBER 2025
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What is the goal and objective of the project?

Building upon the results achieved from the implementation of the Projects “Support the scaling-up of the probation service in Armenia” and “Strengthening the Probation Service in Armenia”, the Project “Further Strengthening the Probation Service in Armenia” financed by the 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 the area of probation.

The envisaged changes will support the Armenian authorities to align the legislation and practice with Council of Europe standards, such us, inter alia Recommendation CM/Rec(2010)1 on the Council of Europe Probation Rules and Recommendation CM/Rec(2017)3 on the European Rules on community sanctions and measures.

 Start date: 1 January 2025

 Duration: 24 months

 Funding: EUR 500,000,  Donors contributing to the Council of Europe Action Plan for Armenia 2023–2026 

Contact person: Mr Arman Poghosyan, Senior Project Officer

 

Who benefits from the project?
  • Ministry of Justice
  • State Probation Service staff
  • Penitentiary Service staff
  • Centre for the Implementation of Legal Education and Rehabilitation Programmes SNCO staff
  • judges and other legal professionals
  • general public
How does the project work?

The Project will follow the main Council of Europe principles throughout its intervention.

Namely, the Probation Service shall aim to reduce reoffending by establishing positive relationships with probationers in order to supervise, guide and assist them and to promote their successful social inclusion. All interventions will be in line with Council of Europe human rights standards and shall have due regard to the dignity, health, safety and well-being of probationers, and it must take full account of the individual characteristics, circumstances and needs of each specific offender in order to ensure that each case is dealt with justly and fairly. Probation service shall work in partnership with other public or private organisations, civil society organisations and local communities to promote the social inclusion of probationers. Co-ordinated and complementary inter-agency and inter-disciplinary work is necessary to undertake to meet often complex needs of probationers and to enhance community safety.

What do we expect to achieve?
  • strengthening the Probation Service through necessary tools and capacity building interventions-new training programme will be developed and support will be provided to enhance E-probation and application of risk and needs assessment tool as well as pre-release reports;
  • improving inter-agency cooperation -regular inter-agency information sharing and coordination meetings as well as workshops will be conducted to ensure effective implementation of the Probation functions;
  • improving resocialisation and rehabilitation measures - support will be provided to strengthen the pool of rehabilitation and resocialisation programmes and ensure coordination with the key stakeholders;
  • Improving regulatory framework on the Probation Service in line with the international standards and best practices in Europe-technical support and expertise will ensure that the pending legislative initiatives are assessed against the CoE standards.
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