TIRANA, Jan. 12 – Alternatives to imprisonment were the focus of a meeting in Tirana organized by the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe in Albania, the Justice Ministry and the National Association of Social Workers.
The event was supported by the Ministry of Integration as part of the framework of the Action Plan on the Stabilization and Association Agreement between Albania and the European Union.
Alex Finnen, the Deputy Head of the OSCE Presence in Albania, Justice Minister Enkelejd Alibeaj and Integration Minister Majlinda Bregu led a review and in-depth discussion of recent draft amendments to the Criminal Code and to the law on the execution of criminal decisions.
The draft envisions that non-violent offenders be placed under effective supervision in the community instead of being incarcerated. The draft amendments also provide for the establishment of a supervisory probation service as an implementing authority.
Participants included representatives of government ministries and other state institutions, judiciary officials, international institutions and civil society organizations.
Finnen welcomed the Justice Ministry’s initiative to establish a Probation Service as the implementing authority for alternative sentences.
Finnen added that the OSCE Presence hoped Albania would soon establish the proper legislation that will address the lack of the proper mechanisms and institutions for dealing with minors under 14 years of age who violate the law or commit criminal acts.
In addition, Finned stated that alternative probationary penalties, where non-violent offenders are placed under effective supervision in the community as opposed to imprisonment, are more cost effective to the state than operating prisons. Additionally, the approval of a draft law on alternatives to custodial sentences would reduce the number of prisoners, would allow for better integration of lawbreakers in society and increase public security.
