News on Enhancing the Protection of Human Rights of Prisoners in Albania
Initial Screening for prisoners with mental health disorders successfully piloted in Albanian prisons and remand facilities.
With support from the European Union and the Council of Europe, the Albanian Prison Service has rolled out an Initial Screening for prisoners with mental health disorders as a health care priority from day one of their admission. The new approach, launched in March 2026, with a capacity-building...
Cognitive Behavior Therapy successfully piloted in four Albanian prisons
The European Union and Council of Europe are assisting the Albanian Prison Service in delivering the Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT), aimed at better preparing prisoners for release. In this framework, on 23 June 2026, an evaluation visit was conducted in Fier Prison by a team composed of a...
Albanian Prisons Prepare to Pilot New Rehabilitation Methods
A three-day training held in Tirana strengthened the capacities of Albanian prison staff to implement rehabilitation and reintegration programmes for prisoners. The training brought together 24 participants, including the Director General for Prison Administration, staff from the Training Center...
From Syria to Reintegration: Supporting Violent Extremist Offenders in the Probation System in Albania
In her dark clothing, Fatime* sits quietly, seemingly uninterested in any conversation, waits impatiently to meet her Probation Officer in Tirana. Every three months, she is required to report and discuss her progress with the probation authorities. She is one of the nine women who returned in...
Improving the treatment of prisoners with mental health disorders in Albania, in line with European standards
The European Union and the Council of Europe are assisting the Albanian prison service to establish a structured and standardised practice to support prisoners with mental health disorders upon admission, in line with the recommendations of the European Committee for the Prevention of Torture. ...
Albanian prison service to pilot Cognitive Behavior Therapy in four prisons
The European Union and Council of Europe are assisting the Albanian Prison Service in introducing a Cognitive Behavior Treatment (CBT) programme, to better prepare prisoners for release. A follow-up capacity-building activity took place in Tirana on 28-29 January, bringing together prison...
Sustainable rehabilitation in prison and probation systems discussed with authorities in Albania
Albanian prison authorities are committed to ensure the long-term use of newly developed tools for violent extremist offenders and adopt the necessary legislative framework for their application across the penitentiary and probation systems. This commitment was emphasized during recent...
New Trauma Informed Therapy brings hope to women prisoners in Albania
For the first time, women prisoners in Albania are benefiting from a structured Trauma-Informed Therapy programme, focusing on mental health, resilience, and dignity in prison rehabilitation. With the support of the EU and Council of Europe and in partnership with the Directorate General of...
Albanian women’s prison to pilot trauma-informed therapy
The Council of Europe continues to assist Albanian prison service to introduce Trauma-Informed Therapy (TiT) in Pojska, Albania’s only prison for women offenders. Following earlier advanced training on TiT for Pojska prison psycho-social staff and representatives of the Directorate General of...
Towards a sustainable training network in the prisons of Albania, through the development of local trainers.
25 penitentiary staff from all prisons in Albania, including trainers in the field and experienced prison police and psycho- social staff gathered in Tirana in a 3-days capacity building activity. This is an important step forward in the process of building a network of trainers in all prisons of...