Improvement of conditions for keeping persons deprived of liberty, upgrade of the management systems of penitentiary institutions; main directions of penitentiary sector for 2024-2026 predetermined

By the order of Minister of Justice Grigor Minasyan, the main directions of the Penitentiary Sector for 2024-2026 have been approved, within the scope of which it is envisaged to review the system of conditional early release from serving punishment in accordance with the principles of safety, security and social re-integration.

Ensuring proper conditions for keeping persons deprived of liberty is in the focus of the Ministry of Justice. Accordingly, the closure of four penitentiary institutions and the construction of a new penitentiary institution meeting international standards are envisaged.

It is envisaged to ensure access to justice and quality medical services, suitable environment meeting international standards for persons with disabilities, as well as for persons with mental health problems.

It is envisaged to ensure decent living conditions for detained women and convicts by improving the bathroom and other premises, as well as to create other gender-sensitive conditions (mother and child department, expansion of female personnel, including female administrators).

It is envisaged to ensure suitable conditions for the cells, lodgings and other necessary areas of penitentiary institutions envisaged for persons with disabilities (ramps, handles, accessible water taps, etc.), as well as to ensure accessible conditions through reasonably adjusted resources (special rehabilitation equipment or auxiliary devices intended for convicts with problems with hearing, vision or speech).

It is envisaged to continue the programmes for re-socialisation in predetermined areas and to assess the needs of convicts for vocational education, as well as to ensure continuity of the right to education and to introduce new educational programmes.

Within the scope of upgrade of the management system of penitentiary institutions, it is envisaged to improve the electronic management system within penitentiary institutions and within the Probation Service, to arm penitentiary institutions with state-of-the-art engineering and technical resources for security and surveillance, to ensure effective mechanisms for management, etc.. It is envisaged to develop an internal control mechanism in order to reveal and react to the violations committed by detained persons, convict and staffs of penitentiary institutions.