TIRANA, March 15 – The OSCE presence in Albania is in favor of alternative sentences to incarceration, not only as a policy to address prison overcrowding but also as a way of reducing social costs.
The OSCE mission in Albania in cooperation with the Ministry of Justice and the General Prosecution Office launched an awareness campaign with a first seminar held in the coastal city of Durres.
“Imprisoning delinquents is not the only solution which makes other people feel safe. Where applicable, probation is more efficient than imprisonment because this entwines accountability with rehabilitation with the final aim the successful reintegration into society of offenders. In fact, imprisonment should be the last alternative,” said the head of the OSCE presence in Albania Florian Raunig.
The OSCE ambassador also highlighted the importance of electronic monitoring as an efficient system of dealing with wrongdoers.
“Electronic tagging is a method of managing offenders, which reduces prison overcrowding and at the same time keeps convicts under surveillance. Since the early 90’s electronic monitoring programs have been successfully applied worldwide as a security measure, but also as an alternative punishment. It maintains public security, while at the same time reduces the negative effects of incarceration,” Raunig added.
Meanwhile, the Prosecution Office expressed its concern regarding the lack of proper rehabilitation mechanisms with many minors between 14-18 years old that are released on probation relapsing into crime. The lack of rehabilitation institutions is also a problem for the category of the mentally ill. The Prosecution Office has continuously insisted for the creation of special institutions so that this category of offenders also receives necessary medical treatment.
“Prosecutors are often having this dilemma what type of punishment to impose especially for minors and persons displaying mental problems,” said Prosecutor General Adriatik Llalla.
“At a time when such institutions are limited we are obliged to hand prison sentences whenever their release constitutes a threat to the life of other people,” Llalla added.
The number of persons receiving alternative sentences has been increasing year after year from 705 in 2009 to about 19,300 last year.
