Since 2014 the Council of Europe (CoE) has been helping the Albanian prison service to introduce more effective prison management practices while creating stronger incentives for prisoner rehabilitation and reintegration. To achieve this, Albanian authorities are adapting an Integrated Sentence Management approach that combines two complementary methodologies, Internal Classification and Case Management. Both methodologies are grounded in the pro-social prison model, which promotes a supportive, community-oriented prison environment where positive behaviors such as mutual respect, collaboration, and personal responsibility are systematically encouraged. 

To this end, a three-day training event was held for 24 participants, including the Director General for Prison Administration and his staff, Training Center for prison staff, chief prison police and heads of the social sections in seven prisons in Albania, learned more about prison case management according to European best practices. During the three-day activity, supported by EU and Council of Europe, participants explored prison case management in alignment with European best practices, discussing examples from various Council of Europe members.

At the end of the training, tailored action plans were developed to test the Case Management methodology in two prisons. The testing is planned to take place between July- September 2026 and is expected to be progressively expanded in more prison facilities across Albania.

To ensure the sustainability of these changes, participants, through the support of the Training Center will provide on-site coaching to the relevant prison staff.

The training was conducted in the framework of the joint European Union and Council of Europe programme ”Horizontal Facility for the Western Balkans and Türkiye”, and its action on “Enhancing the protection of Human Rights of prisoners in Albania”.