The Probation Service of the Ministry of Justice of Armenia has launched two significant rehabilitation programmes in 2024: one aimed at overcoming addictions and the other at reducing violent behavior. A preliminary needs assessment identified two major groups of beneficiaries—those struggling with drug and other addictions, and those convicted of violent crimes.
The courts did not deprive these individuals of their liberty, determining that they could serve their sentences in society under the supervision of the Probation Service. Some beneficiaries have also been conditionally released from penitentiary institutions after demonstrating positive behavioural changes. Following their release, the Resocialization and Rehabilitation Department of the Probation Service becomes responsible for supporting their reintegration.
“Courts are placing increasing trust in the Probation Service. Their verdicts now often require beneficiaries to participate in resocialisation programs, such as psychological training, educational courses, and other rehabilitation activities,” explains Sirarpi Mughdusyan, head of the Resocialisation and Rehabilitation Department. “This is a mandatory condition. If beneficiaries fail to participate during their probation period, we are required to file a petition to revoke their probation and detain them again.”
Given that courts often mandate such requirements in their rulings, Armenian State Service has decided to create targeted programmes to address them. The Council of Europe has been approached with a proposal to introduce two resocialisation programmes specifically designed for these groups: one focused on overcoming addictions and the other on reducing violent behavior.
“Both programmes are more psychologically oriented, aimed at transforming an individual’s inner world, attitudes, and value system, while fostering personal growth,” explains the head of the department. “They focus on aspects such as reducing aggression, identifying alternative solutions to violent behavior, and strengthening stress resilience.”
The Probation Service began developing the Violent Behavior Reduction Project at the beginning of 2024. Council of Europe experts collaborated with probation officers to create a comprehensive manual, and ten officers were trained to deliver its modules to beneficiaries. A pilot programme was conducted with two groups—one in Yerevan and another in Kotayk Province.
“The pilot implementation highlighted certain challenges, which were continuously discussed and resolved with the Council of Europ experts. The manual has now been finalised, and we expect to officially approve the ‘Reduction of Violent Behavior’ project by the end of this year, in order to implement it with the Probation Service’s beneficiaries”, said Mughdusyan.
Psychologist Hermine Gevorgyan, an employee of the Probation Service, works closely with beneficiaries struggling with violent behavior. “Most participants are men between the ages of forty and fifty. At first, they were tense and hesitant, but after two or three meetings, their attitude completely changed. A trusting environment was established, and they began to share their thoughts freely. Some participants even arrived twenty minutes early, eager to start the sessions,” says Gevorgyan.
To measure the programme’s impact, beneficiaries complete questionnaires before the course begins and again midway through. “A comparison of the initial and midway responses already shows notable improvements. Their previously aggressive attitudes have softened, and they express themselves differently. We will conduct a final evaluation at the end of the course to clearly determine the progress they have made,” Gevorgyan adds.
The second programme focuses on overcoming drug addictions—a growing issue worldwide, and one that Armenia has not escaped. Many beneficiaries under the Probation Service’s supervision have been convicted of drug-related offenses. Following the needs assessment, the Council of Europe worked with the Probation Service to develop a specialised manual for this program. The next steps include training probation officers and piloting the program at the start of 2025.
Each rehabilitation programme consists of ten to fourteen 14 sessions, after which participants receive a certificate confirming their completion of the course. “The ultimate goal of these programmes is to prevent recidivism. If even two out of eight participants successfully avoid reoffending, that is a significant achievement—particularly when working with addictions, which are challenging to address globally,” says Mughdusyan.
Armenia's new Penal Code, which took effect in June 2022, prioritises resocialisation as a cornerstone of the justice system. It emphasizes training, employment, personalised rehabilitation plans, and the role of resocialisation committees in helping beneficiaries reintegrate into society.
Inclusion in resocialisation programmes requires one of two conditions:
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A court ruling mandating participation in rehabilitation programmes.
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An assessment of risks and criminogenic needs, such as education, health, professional skills, addiction recovery, and family or social environments.
The Resocialisation and Rehabilitation Department develops supervision plans based on these assessments, ensuring tailored support for each beneficiary.
The Council of Europe also supported the development of a risk and needs assessment tool to guide rehabilitation efforts. However, initial implementation revealed limitations, as the tool often classified risks as “low” even when officers perceived them to be moderate or high.
After several years of evaluation, it was determined that the tool required revision. This year, the tool has been reworked and re-evaluated, followed by pilot testing, which yielded satisfactory results. Preparations are now underway to submit it for approval by the Minister of Justice. It is expected that by early 2025, a new and approved tool will be in place. According to experts, this revised tool is highly sensitive and effectively measures the level of risk.
Thus, psychologists from the State Service and probation officers report observing positive behavioural changes among beneficiaries participating in rehabilitation training courses under programmes introduced by the Council of Europe. These programs, combined with the improved Risk and Needs Assessment (RNA) tool, are helping the Probation Service tailor interventions more effectively. Over time, as these behavioural changes become more evident, courts will be better positioned to reserve imprisonment for only the most extreme cases.
Author: Sara Petrosyan, HETQ
