The main objective of the project was to strengthen penitentiary system in Armenia based on the rule of law and respect for fundamental rights and European democratic values and standards, as well as to support the Government to combat prison overcrowding. The project was aimed at bringing the Armenian penitentiary system closer to the European Prison Rules and other recommendations of the Council of Europe, such as Council of Europe Probation Rules, the CPT standards, the case law of the European Court of Human Rights and best European practices. Specific objectives of the project were:

• to extend the scope of community sanctions and measures;
• to support in preparing background for the establishment of probation service;
• to support the development of the system of conditional release and parole;
• to support capacity building and training.