Assessment of risks and needs of convicts, individual planning of punishment; Ministry of Justice expands relations with the CoE

During the first meeting of the working group established for piloting and introducing the tool for assessing the risks of and needs for re-socialisation of convicts, organised within the scope of the programme “Strengthening the protection of the rights of persons deprived of liberty” being implemented by the Council of Europe, Deputy Minister of Justice Levon Balyan highly appreciated the fact that the co-operation of the Ministry of Justice with the Council of Europe has been expanded in the penitentiary sector, with the aim of assessing the risks and needs of convicts, individual planning of punishment, preparing convicts for release from punishment, introducing effective programmes for re-socialisation, building the capacities of the Penitentiary and Probation Services, etc.

The tool for assessing the risks and needs, the roadmap for piloting and introducing were presented and discussed during the meeting. In particular, the terms for piloting, the number of participants, the examples of countries with experience in introducing the specified system, were considered.

Summing up his speech, the Deputy Minister reaffirmed the willingness of the Ministry of Justice in ensuring continuity of reforms in the penitentiary and probation sectors.